Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when inter country adoptions between Ireland and Vietnam will resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16789/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In September 2012 the AAI and the Vietnamese Central Authority for Adoption signed an Administrative Arrangement for intercountry adoption. The Administrative Arrangement is the first international arrangement for intercountry adoption entered into by the AAI and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since both countries ratified the Hague Convention.

One of the agencies accredited by the AAI to facilitate adoptions from Vietnam has applied to the Vietnamese authorities for approval, a decision by the Vietnamese authorities in this regard is expected shortly.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent sovereign state, as such it is a matter for them to decide the manner in which it will implement the Hague Convention, including the numbers of children deemed suitable for intercountry adoption having regard to the principles of the Convention.