The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade at its meeting today discussed human rights and the current situation in Syria. The Committee considered the Amnesty International Report ‘Year of Rebellion: The State of Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa’. The Committee also heard evidence relating to Ireland’s bid to be elected to a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Committee expresses its deep regret at the failure of the UN Security Council to reach unanimity in the face of this crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that over 5,000 people have died in Syria during the current unrest. Amnesty International claims that at least 190 people, including children, have died in custody in recent months, many as a result of torture. There are also reports from Médicins sans Frontières that medicine is being used as a weapon of persecution by the Syrian regime, including the repression of NGOs and the targeting of those attending hospitals.

The Committee calls on Ireland and its EU partners to continue working with the League of Arab States to protect the lives of the civilian population in Syria. It is clear that President Assad’s approach of crushing dissent through military force has failed and that, without a political process, the situation in Syria is likely to descend into a protracted and bloody conflict. Ireland has a long tradition of promoting international human rights as a cornerstone of foreign relations and is currently seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland, therefore, should be to the forefront of current EU engagement with Syria ensuring that the protection of human rights is a key driver in terms of seeking a settlement. The Committee affirms its solidarity with the people of Syria in the face of their ongoing repression.

Following a full debate on the situation in Syria, the statement was unanimously agreed by the Joint Committee.

Among those attending the meeting from the Human Rights Unit from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are: Colin Wrafter, Director, Human Rights Unit, Department Foreign Affairs and Trade; Breda Lee, Deputy Director, HRU, DFA; and Aoife Ni Fhearghail, Desk Officer, HRU, DFA.

Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “Established in 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body made up of 47 States. It is the UN’s principal human rights body and is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.

Human Rights Council members are elected by the Member States of the UN General Assembly in a secret ballot. Members are elected for a three-year term. If Ireland is elected, we would serve as a Council member for the 2013 to 2015 term.

Ireland is a member of the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). Three seats are available in that group for the 2013-2015 term and five WEOG members are seeking election: Ireland, the United States, Germany, Sweden and Greece. This is Ireland’s first time to seek election to the Human Rights Council.

Election to the Council would add to the high standing and reputation Ireland has built up in the UN over many decades. If elected our term would coincide with our Presidency of the European Union from January to June 2013 and it would directly follow our Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe which ends on 31st December 2012. Our participation in these organisations would be a significant boost to our international profile.

Today we will receive an update on the status of Ireland’s candidature and our chances of election. We will also have an opportunity to ascertain what Ireland’s priorities will be if elected to the Human Rights Council.”

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 8th February.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:

http://bit.ly/24YmPI

“I was delighted to be present for the unveiling ceremony here at Shannon Airport this afternoon and to have the opportunity to address the gathering. This state of the art Sikorsky S92 is a great asset for this Region, it is another first for Shannon Airport and it will be tremendously beneficial for the crews of Rescue 115 here at CHC who are contracted to provide Search and Rescue Aviation Services for the Irish Coast Guard. These experienced and specialist crews at Shannon Airport play a significant role in search and rescue activities throughout this Region and I commend them for their work.”

“The Sikorsky S92 Helicopter is capable of operating in all weather conditions, it is specifically configured for rescue operations; highly versatile and given its internal auxiliary fuel tanks it is capable of travelling extended distances which is also very cost effective.”

“Now that the S92 is available, I believe that it is an opportune time to set up an air ambulance service given that the S92 will have the correct profile to support the HSE in this role. The problem with the Sikorsky 61 N Helicopter was that it was not approved for Air Ambulance Operations due to its limitations.”

“I discussed this possibility with the crews of Rescue 115 yesterday afternoon and they are very excited about this prospect. They are all trained paramedics and they told me that they could lift off from Shannon Airport and travel to assist a seriously ill patient in Kilbaha in West Clare for example within twenty minutes. This would provide tremendous back-up for the paramedics who are already working in the emergency services here in West Clare.”

“The provision of air ambulance services throughout Europe is a common sight. They deliver timely medical care to patients, particularly those who are seriously injured or who require immediate transport to hospital and it is especially useful in cases where patients have to travel long distances or for patients who live in rural areas like West Clare.”

“I have been campaigning for the provision of Air Ambulance Service in West Clare for quite some time and recently I raised the possibility again with the Minister for Health James Reilly T.D. The HSE’s Director of the National Ambulance Service Robert Morton has informed me that discussions have taken place between both the HSE and the Irish Coast Guard Service and that while the operational timescale for the new helicopter is the responsibility of the IRCG that the HSE envisage June 2012 as the potential start of the new service.”

“Speaking to the crews at Shannon Airport yesterday afternoon, I understand that this timescale is achievable given that following a period of intensive training they expect that the S92 will be operational in June.

“I also understand that at present the IRCG respond to calls from the HSE in respect of “Life or Death” circumstances or in the case of emergency transfers. When the new service is up and running it will be on the basis of “as and when available”

“The delivery of the new S92 Helicopter shows that this Government is committed to funding our search and rescue services. It also shows that the Government is anxious to have this state of art equipment available in this area, in order that the IRCG services can be extended to include the provision of an Air Ambulance service, which is very good news for West Clare.”

“Fears had been expressed that given that the HSE were reviewing the future of Long Term Nursing Homes in the Mid-West Region that the future of our facilities in Regina House in Kilrush, at Raheen Hospital in Tuamgraney and at Ennistymon Hospital and at St. Joseph’s Hospital could close. There was a lot of scare mongering by the Opposition and unfounded speculation over the past few months regarding their future and I am delighted to be able to reassure the Staff, patients and their families that the future of these Hospitals is secure.”

“I welcome the fact that the future of our Nursing Homes has been clarified particularly against the backdrop of the HSE having to operate with a reduced budget of €50 million for this year. And I would like to pay tribute and compliment the Staff working in HSE non acute Section for achieving savings in this area given this reduced budget which has contributed to this decision.”

“I understand from the HSE that the situation in the Long Term Nursing Home area will be kept under review for the remainder of the year and that hopefully no further bed closures will be necessary but this will be dependent on a number of factors; namely an unanticipated increase in Sick Leave or further staff departures from the service or other changed circumstances.”

“While there will no Nursing Home closures in Clare, I understand in the short-term 19 beds at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis will be closed for refurbishment. I have been assured that 11 of these beds will be re-opened after six weeks with the remaining 8 beds re-opening after a further six weeks.”

“I have lobbied extensively over the past number of months to the Health Minister James Reilly and the HSE and I have pointed out the importance of our Long Stay Nursing Homes and the vital role that they play in our Communities and I am delighted that the future of these Nursing Homes has now been confirmed and that the people of Clare now have certainty regarding the future of these facilities going forward.”

ENDS

“It makes perfectly good sense, as President, Mary McAleese was a great ambassador for this Country and I see no reason why she could not work in a supporting role with David Cooney, the Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

“David Cooney is based here and has already travelled twice in recent months to Rome and he has attended Archbishop Brown’s ordination as Ireland’s new Papal Nuncio.

“However, I understand that Mrs McAleese will be studying law in Italy over the next two years and she would be ideally located to become a special representative to deal with the Vatican.”

“I believe that this would be an ideal situation for Ireland, given that the embassy was closed for financial reasons and it is unlikely that it will be re-opened in the short-term.”

“I have spoken to several constituents who were very disappointed at the closure of our Embassy in the Vatican particularly given that Ireland is now

“This allocation to Clare County Council represents a significant investment into the Regional and Local Road Networks of the County.”

“The funding will be targeted on the maintenance of our local and regional roads which have being damaged by the severe winters we have experienced in recent times. This winter we had a lot of heavy rain and this funding will go a long way in undertaking essential repairs on those roads most badly affected. And for this purpose the grant for restoration improvement works for 2012 has been increased to €7,236,913 up €750,000 from 2011.”

“Other projects to be tackled in 2012 include works at Ballybeg in Ennis which requires resurfacing and for which €175,000 has been allocated. Others improvement works planned include works on the R352 Ennis to Portumna (Sandpit Cross) €250,000, works on the R352 Ennis/Portumna (Spancilhill) €300,000 and works on the R460 Miltown Malbay to Gort €250,000.

“Funding has also been provided for a number of low cost safety improvement works on the R458 at Bunnahow, Tubber, €30,000, on the R3471 at Lynches Bend in Sixmilebridge €50,000 and on the R352 at Sandpit Cross in Tulla at a cost of €110,000.”

“Local Roads represent 84% of Clare’s Road Network or 3,399 Km of Road; while Regional Roads represent 14.5% or 604km and the maintenance of these roads is hugely important especially for those living in rural areas as improvements to these roads serve to increase safety for all road users.”

“The maintenance of our local/regional roads also has an important economic role given that they carry 60% of all traffic and 43% of all goods traffic. Todays’ allocation is very welcome and particularly given the economic circumstances I am pleased that the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar T.D. has managed to increase the allocation in funding to Clare County Council this year; which is good news for road users in County Clare.”

Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “This month is the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake which hit Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western world. More than 230,000 people were killed and 1.6 million were left homeless. Two years on, despite huge recovery efforts from Irish and international agencies, around 600,000 people still live in tents.

Haiti Week, the first initiative of its kind in Ireland, is an innovative partnership developed by a number of Irish charities and businesses to assist the development of new ideas and approaches that will help hundreds of thousands of Haitian people.

Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to hear first-hand from these groups about the situation on the ground in Haiti and what needs to be done to deal with many of the key humanitarian and development issues facing the country.”

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 25th January.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:

http://bit.ly/24YmPI

Deputy Breen raised the matter during the Topical Issue Debate in Dail Eireann last week. “I have been working with a number of families in County Clare and indeed from other parts of the Country who have been left in limbo since the last Government suspended indefinitely our bilateral adoption agreement with Vietnam in January 2010.”

“In the interim very little effort was expended on rectifying the situation until Minister Frances Fitzgerald came to office and it is thanks to the renewed diplomatic efforts undertaken by this Government which that the Vietnamese Government have ratified the Hague Convention, which will come into effect on the 1st February 2012 next.”

“In September I visited Vietnam in my role as Chairman of the committee and I met Vietnam’s Justice Minister at the request of the Minister, I found the Justice Minister and the Vietnamese Government very supportive and anxious to renew our bilateral arrangements and I was not surprised when they lodged their documentation for ratification with the Hague Convention on 1 November.”
“Following her visit to Vietnam, Minister Fitzgerald outlined a number of steps which will now be undertaken in the coming weeks. Firstly, an administrative agreement must be put in place with Vietnam. Secondly, the Adoption Authority of Ireland has to complete its work on the accreditation of agencies, which is essential to ensure that we have an Agency that will assist adoptive couples in Vietnam and this has to be in place by the 1st February. Thirdly, the Children’s Minister has also invited the Vietnamese Justice Minister to Ireland and she is hopeful that pending these developments that inter-country adoptions could begin again between Ireland and Vietnam in the coming months.”

“During the course of the debate, I also raised the possibility of entering negotiations on a bilateral inter country adoption agreement with Ethiopia. Following my own visit to Vietnam, a number of Clare families were in touch with me enquiring about this possibility. I did raise the matter with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, in Addis Ababa when I was in Ethiopia and he assured me that he would bring my concerns to the attention of his relevant Cabinet colleagues.”

“Minister Fitzgerald confirmed that she has given approval to the Adoption Authority of Ireland to commence the process of examining the fea

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan: There will be more touched by it because of this.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Tom Hayes): Please.

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan: He referred to me.

Deputy Pat Breen: It is very insensitive of Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan to have made his remark and I believe he should withdraw it.

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan I do not really give twopence what the Deputy says.

Deputy Pat Breen:

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. There is no doubt but that we are living in dire straits, strange economic times and circumstances that warrant tough decisions. All of us on this side of the House would prefer if we did not have to make them but, unfortunately, the people elected us to sort out the finances and economic situation. There are tough decisions to be made.

The Minister, Deputy Quinn, managed to drive reform in such a short time in his Ministry. Since he assumed office, he has introduced some real educational reforms. The reforms of the junior and leaving certificate curricula are just some of the challenges we face. There have not been changes in this regard since the 1930s. The new junior certificate will concentrate more on critical thinking. There will be more school-based assessment, which will place less emphasis on one final exam. The new curriculum will lay the foundation for changes to the leaving certificate. This is extremely important. For far too long, pupils were just learning off the content of textbooks. New thinking is required and it is extremely important.

The Minister plans to review the CAO points system for entry to third level which could see radical changes to the college admissions system within three or four years. I compliment him on this forward thinking.
I sometimes pinch myself when I listen to some of the comments from across the floor, particularly from the former Government Deputies. Sometimes I believe I am in the film “Back to the Future” when I listen to comments in debates here but I suppose that is the way politics works.

Deputy Pat Breen: I remind Deputies that when the Celtic tiger was raging a few years ago and we were flush with money, the then Government delivered very little reform in the education system.

Deputy Pat Breen: I remind Deputies it was the former Government that reduced the number of language support teachers from six to two and axed the 128 special classes for pupils with mild learning disabilities. It was the former Government that cut substitute teachers in schools, reduced class sizes and forced many trainee secondary teachers to choose alternative careers or emigrate.

The reality is we are bankrupt. Some €350 million has to be cut from the education budget by 2014, with €70 million in cuts this yea0D
The Minister plans to review the CAO points system for entry to third level which could see radical changes to the college admissions system within three or four years. I compliment him on this forward thinking.
I sometimes pinch myself when I listen to some of the comments from across the floor, particularly from the former Government Deputies. Sometimes I believe I am in the film “Back to the Future” when I listen to comments in debates here but I suppose that is the way politics works.

Deputy Pat Breen: I remind Deputies that when the Celtic tiger was raging a few years ago and we were flush with money, the then Government delivered very little reform in the education system.

Deputy Pat Breen: I remind Deputies it was the former Government that reduced the number of language support teachers from six to two and axed the 128 special classes for pupils with mild learning disabilities. It was the former Government that cut substitute teachers in schools, reduced class sizes and forced many trainee secondary teachers to choose alternative careers or emigrate.

The reality is we are bankrupt. Some €350 million has to be cut from the education budget by 2014, with €70 million in cuts this year, an enormous sum.

Deputy Pat Breen: The Minister explained last night the reasons for the budget reduction. He is anxious to put in place the staffing allocation at 19:1 but, unfortunately, like every other Minister in this Government, he does not have the luxury of unlimited budgets. If he spends the money in one area, he has to make cuts in others.
I want to refer to the role played by guidance counsellors. While 42% of our schools do not have full-time guidance counsellors, those schools that have them value the service that is provided by counsellors, which must be acknowledged by all Deputies

In September I visited Vietnam in my role as Chairman of the committee and I met Vietnam’s Justice Minister at the request of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy O’Sullivan, has since met the Vietnamese Minister and the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, has just returned from a visit to Vietnam. I found the Justice Minister and the Vietnamese Government very supportive and anxious to renew our bilateral arrangements. I was not surprised when they lodged their documentation for ratification with the Hague Convention on 1 November.

I am aware that a number of technical issues remain to be addressed but significant progress has been made. I ask the Minister to update me on her visit to Vietnam and what she now expects in terms of a final agreement. A number of families are anxious to know when they might expect to be able to recommence their adoption proceedings.
Following my visit to Vietnam a number of families contacted me regarding the possibility of negotiating a bilateral intercountry adoption agreement with Ethiopia. When I raised the matter with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, in Addis Ababa he assured me that he would bring my concerns to the attention of his relevant Cabinet colleges. I understand the Minister has given authorisation to the chairman of the Adoption Authority, Geoffrey Shannon, to open discussions with officials in Ethiopia with a view to entering into a bilateral arrangement. I welcome this initiative and I would be grateful if she could update me on those discussions.

We read in Sunday’s newspapers the disturbing news about illegal adoptions in Mexico. I realise the Minister may be constrained from speaking in detail on this matter due to possible proceedings. I understand three Mexican women have been arrested and seven babies have been taken into state care. It has been suggested that a number of Irish couples may be involved. Reports suggest that children were bought from cash strapped mothers and then handed over to foreign couples who were looking to adopt.

It is an appalling situation. The Adoption Authority has warned parents against entering into private arrangements with agencies or individuals in Mexico and it has been working to formalise procedures between our countries. It is very important that we put in place formal bilateral arrangements which guarantee protection for the adopted child, who must come first. I ask the Minister to comment on this issue, if she is able to do so, and to indicate the progress made on formal arrangements between Mexico and Ireland.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald):
I thank Deputy Breen for raising this matter, which is of great interest to many Members of this House. I commend him on the important work he has done as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on behalf of my Department during his recent visit to Vietnam.

The Hague Convention on lntercountry Adoption will enter into force in Vietnam on 1 February 2012. This is a significant milestone in seeking to promote a secure basis for intercountry adoption between our two countries, which was effectively in suspension for the past two years.
I have just returned from a useful visit to Vietnam that focused on intercountry adoption. My recent visit to Hanoi provided an opportunity for direct, personal engagement with relevant Vietnamese officials. I have engaged at a political and diplomatic level and my trip coincided with a visit by a delegation from the Adoption Authority of Ireland led by Mr. Geoffrey Shannon. While I was in Hanoi I was briefed on the programme of work that the Vietnamese Government has undertaken to complete the ratification process and improve its systems of adoption. It introduced new adoption legislation and there is a greater motivation to ensure all adoptions are processed centrally. It also wants to improve its systems of child protection and adoption, particularly domestic adoptions.

I met the Vietnamese Justice Minister, Mr. Ha Hung Cuong, who specifically asked me to inform Irish families that Vietnam is ready to implement the Hague Convention and that it is the Vietnamese Government’s desire to co-operate with Ireland in respect of intercountry adoption of children for whom suitable families cannot be found in Vietnam. I particularly raised the issue of the 19 families who were caught just at the time when adoptions stopped two years ago and the 200 families who have been assessed. There is major sensitivity towards these families and they will be prioritised.
There are a number of key steps which must be undertaken next. We need to have an administrative agreement with Vietnam; that is the way to ensure best practice. This was the subject of separate discussions by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, AAI, with the relevant body in Vietnam. The authority is continuing its work on the accreditation of agencies, which is essential. We need an agency or agencies that will assist adoptive couples in Vietnam, and I am assured that this will be done by 1 February, which will lead to a further opening of inter-country adoption between the two countries. I have also invited the Vietnamese Minister for justice to visit Ireland. I am hopeful that, pending the developments I have mentioned, we will see inter-country adoptions beginning again between Ireland and Vietnam in the coming weeks or months. However, it is a changed situation, as the focus will be on domestic adoption first.
With regard to Ethiopia, some adoptions are currently being effected under transitional arrangements. They go ahead. However, I must inform the House that Ethiopia is not a signatory to the Hague Convention and, therefore, following the lapse of the transitional arrangements that currently exist, if we intend to continue adoptions from Ethiopia, a bilateral agreement will be necessary. Under section 73 of the Adoption Act, if I give the authority to the AAI to begin discussions with a non-contracting state to the Hague Convention, that can happen. We would need, if we were to do that, to analyse the current situation in Ethiopia and consider the compatibility of the laws between the two countries and the plans Ethiopia has to sign the Hague Convention. I gave approval very recently to commence the process of examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia, and the AAI has confirmed that it has commenced this process. I am conscious of the many families that have adopted from Ethiopia already and that they would like to see adoptions beginning again, but I must emphasise that as Ethiopia is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, this would require the negotiation of a bilateral agreement covering the key issues of consent and the circumstances that might apply if there were to be further adoptions.

The Deputy also asked about the events in Mexico recently which have received extensive coverage. The chairman of the AAI has commented publicly on the recent events. I must point out that comprehensive and clear guidelines about adoptions in Mexico have been on the AAI website for the past 15 months. I asked the AAI to visit Mexico and it did so earlier last year. I commend the authority on the work it has been doing with a whole range of countries. It had, I believe, seven advisories on its website to inform couples of how they should proceed if Mexico was their country of choice for adoption. I reiterate that the Mexican authority has stated there is no provision for private adoptions in the context of inter-country adoption between Ireland and Mexico. On that basis, prospective adoptive parents are and have been advised by the AAI not to enter into any private arrangements with individuals or private agencies in order to effect an adoption in Mexico, which is a signatory to the Hague Convention. That is very clear. Anyone considering Mexico as a country of origin should consult the AAI website for the latest advisory. Those who have already adopted from that jurisdiction or who are in the process of doing so should also refer to the authority’s advice, which was issued on 16 January, and there will be further advisories.

The unfortunate developments we have seen in recent weeks underline the vital role of the authority in overseeing the implementation of the Hague Convention and the standards that apply between countries - the standards that must apply if we are to have the protection of children at the centre of our priorities. We want to promote the very best interests of children in our adoption policy nationally and internationally, and that is what is behind the information that is given to people by the AAI. If we do that, it will lead to high-quality decision making with regard to inter-country adoption, and the right decisions being made for children and indeed for parents.

Deputy Pat Breen: I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. I thought it was important to raise this issue on the record, because there are many concerned couples out there. As the Minister said, there are 19 couples that were almost on the point of adoption before the agreement was broken. I am delighted to hear the Minister say that any difficulties with the agencies will be sorted out before 1 February. That is important. As I said, I have been contacted by couples not only in my own constituency, but also outside my constituency. Much work has been done in this regard by the Minister in a very short period. Bilateral relations with Vietnam, not just in the area of adoptions, have also improved substantially as a result of the Minister’s visit and those of the former Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, and myself as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. I look forward to more progress in this regard.

I know the Minister probably cannot give a timescale for the resumption of adoptions, but that is what every couple wants to know, particularly with regard to Vietnam. When does she think adoptions could proceed again? It is a difficult question as there are still some hurdles to jump, but I know she and her officials in the Department will be working closely with the Vietnamese officials to ensure that any concerns are resolved quickly and that the couples who want to adopt a Vietnamese child can do so as quickly as possible. I believe there are about 800 adopted Vietnamese children already in the country, and when they grow up they will want to know about their culture and heritage. I have visited some of the parents and seen how the children are cherished and loved. However, I also understand the point of view of the Vietnamese Government, which wants to deal with the area of domestic adoptions. I thank the Minister again for her reply.
Deputy Frances Fitzgerald: Since taking office, I have been trying to bring clarity to the area of inter-country adoption. That applies to Vietnam, Russia and Ethiopia - whichever countries we are talking about. For adoptions to take place between two countries, ideally both countries will have signed the Hague Convention; if not, there should be a bilateral agreement. Many Irish parents have already adopted from a range of countries, some of which do not have a bilateral agreement with us. Often, they are anxious to adopt again from the same country. However, the absence of bilateral agreements does make for some difficulties. What I wanted to ensure was that there was no drift and that parents would remain informed. This is why I have, in recent weeks, asked the AAI to send representatives to Florida, Russia, Ethiopia and Vietnam to try to achieve clarity with regard to those countries. We can comment on other countries another time.

With regard to the timescale, two issues must be dealt with before the adoption process can reopen: Vietnam must sign the Hague Convention, which it will do on 1 February, and Ireland needs to have accredited agencies to work there with the couples. My understanding is that both of those issues will be dealt with by 1 February. The contents of the administrative agreement have been agreed. There are some technical difficulties outstanding, but we believe they can be resolved in a number of weeks. The chairman of the AAI is confident they can be resolved fairly quickly.

Inter-country adoption between Ireland and Vietnam will begin to open up again, but I emphasise that because of our new Adoption Act, the standards that apply in the Hague Convention and the new procedures in Vietnam for domestic adoption, it is a different situation.
When a child is available for adoption, the Vietnamese authorities must first check whether there are people in Vietnam who wish to adopt him or her, and that will be a priority. Children with special needs will not be in that position, however. The authorities inform me that families will be asked whether they would like to adopt a child with special needs directly, without the need for a domestic adoption procedure. The work there will relate mainly to intercountry adoption.
It is a changed situation. We will put more information up on the websites of both the Adoption Authority and the Department so parents will be as fully informed as possible. That is the best information I can give the Deputy at this point.