Delegation to seek deal on adoptions from Vietnam

Publication date: 28 June 2009

28 June 2009

By Susan Mitchell

The Minister for Children, Barry Andrews, is to travel to Vietnam today in an effort to secure a new adoption agreement with the country.

Andrews is leading a delegation that includes Elizabeth Canavan, former principal officer at the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; and former junior justice minister Frank Fahey, who was minister for children between 1997 and 2000.

Shane Downer, chief executive of the Intercountry Adoption Association (IAA), is also joining the delegation in support of the minister’s initiative.

It is understood that the delegation will meet Andrews’ counterpart in Vietnam and other members of the Vietnamese cabinet.

Ireland’s previous bilateral adoption agreement with Vietnam lapsed on May 1 after five years.

The failure to implement a new agreement has left hundreds of people who were trying to adopt children from the Asian country facing uncertainty.

It will be Andrews’ first visit to Vietnam, but he and his officials have tried to play down expectations about the outcome of the trip.

A circular issued by the IAA to its members, which was seen by this newspaper, said it would be ‘‘helpful to maintain the low-key nature’’ of the visit.

Almost 300 people had been approved to adopt from Vietnam by the Adoption Board, after going through a lengthy assessment process.

The vast majority of assessments are carried out by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and can take several years.

Since the previous agreement lapsed, prospective adoptive parents and adoption groups have put pressure on Andrews to resolve the matter, and have lobbied other public representatives extensively.

Andrews has vowed to improve the adoption process and reduce the time it takes for applicants to be assessed.

Countries: Vietnam, Ireland