Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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381. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when inter-country adoptions will commence between Ireland and the United States of America in view of the recent conclusion of inter-country adoption operating arrangements between both countries; if she will provide details of the road map governing the inter-country adoption process that will operate between the two countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43577/13]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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382. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether it will be necessary to put in place transitional measures for Irish applicants for inter-country adoption who are already registered with a US Hague-accredited agency, before an Irish agency is approved to work with US agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43578/13]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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383. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether Irish applicants for inter-country adoption already registered with a US Hague-accredited agency will incur any additional costs when switching to an Irish agency once an Irish agency is established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43581/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 383, inclusive, together.

At a meeting at the US State Department in September which was attended by myself and the Chairman of the Adoption Authority, the administrative arrangement in relation to intercountry adoption from the USA which had been agreed between Ireland and the USA was given effect. It was agreed that adoptions from the USA into Ireland will continue and that all adoptions between the two States will be carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

Pending the delegation of functions to an Irish based accredited body working in the USA, the Authority will continue to send Article 15 assessment reports to US adoption service providers. The Authority advises that should certain functions under the Hague Convention be delegated to an accredited body there may be a charge to applicants for this service, including the possibility of a lesser charge for a partial service where the process was initiated prior to the delegation date. Any proposed fees to be charged by an accredited body must be approved by the Authority prior to their commencement.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding inter-country adoption between Ireland and Vietnam since the signing of the administrative agreement on inter-country adoption between Ireland and Vietnam in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43582/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In September 2012 the Adoption Authority of Ireland (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. The Adoption Authority accredited Helping Hands for activities in relation to facilitating adoptions from Vietnam and Helping Hands has received approval from the Vietnamese authorities to operate there. Helping Hands have advised that they expect adoptions to commence shortly.