The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is due to enter into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. The Hague Convention sets out minimum standards for intercountry adoption. It includes provisions relating to the issues of subsidiarity, free and informed consent for birth parents, and financial arrangements.
Following my recent visit to Vietnam, I can confirm that the Vietnamese authorities are committed to putting in place the legislative framework that supports safe and secure domestic and intercountry adoption and adheres to the principles of the Hague Convention. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent sovereign state. As such it will decide the manner in which it implements the Hague Convention, including the numbers of children deemed suitable for intercountry adoption, having regard to the principles of the Convention. It is reasonable, however, to assume that the numbers of adoptions by Irish applicants may not reach previous levels.
These and other issues will be addressed by the Adoption Authority in further discussions with Vietnamese authorities around the administrative arrangements necessary for the resumption of intercountry adoption from Vietnam pursuant to Article 72 of the Adoption Act 2010.
