Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the signing of an Administrative Agreement on inter-country adoption with Vietnam. The agreement which has been officially signed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD has also been signed by the Vietnamese Minister for Justice, Ha Hung Cuong, on behalf of the Vietnamese Central Authority, and Dr Geoffrey Shannon Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI).
“I welcome the signing of the Administrative Agreement between Ireland and Vietnam. This is the first agreement that the Adoption Authority of Ireland has entered since we ratified the Hague Convention, which sets international standards for inter-country adoptions. This agreement must now form the basis of further agreements between Ireland and other countries.
“Across Cork there are many families who have adopted children from Vietnam and there are many more who would to like to adopt. I hope that this agreement enables those families to pursue their hopes of a successful adoption.
“Earlier this year I met with the Vietnamese delegation when they visited Helping Hands Adoption Agency in Cork. It was evident at that meeting that all parties wanted to ensure an agreement was reached which would assist families and children.
“Since Minister Fitzgerald has taken office she has prioritised securing an agreement with Vietnam. We now have an agreement in place which will facilitate safe and secure adoptions between Ireland and Vietnam. The knowledge and experience obtained in finalising this agreement with Vietnam must now be used to ensure that Ireland secures similar arrangements with other countries.
“Minister Fitzgerald must be congratulated on their work which has successfully delivered this agreement. I am confident that their leadership will continue to improve the availability of safe and secure inter-country adoptions for the benefit of children and families.”