Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2009
152 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the UNICEF Report on Adoption from Vietnam, 2009; the reason she asked the Adoption Board to investigate an agency (details supplied); if the investigation is complete; if there is a conflict of interest between the membership of the Adoption Board and this agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46599/09]
View answerI recently received the UNICEF report ‘Adoption from Vietnam: Problems and Challenges' carried out by the International Social Service (ISS). I have discussed the findings of the report with a number of groups representing persons wishing to adopt from Vietnam. This consultation is an important component of my consideration of the issues raised in the report. I intend to complete my assessment shortly and recommend a course of action to Government with regard to future adoptions from Vietnam.
My Office became aware of concerns around aspects of the operation of the mediation agency in question upon receipt of the ‘draft Final Report' of the ‘Assessment of the Adoption System in Vietnam' by ISS in mid August this year. The Adoption Board were contacted immediately upon receipt of the draft report. The Adoption Board's role in registering adoption societies, including the mediation agency in question, make it the appropriate body to consider the issues raised. The matters under consideration in relation to the agency, along with the wider issue of adoptions from Vietnam are currently being considered in the context of the ISS, and the earlier MoLISA, reports.
