NOTICE – VIETNAM – 7 FEBRUARY 2012

The Vietnamese authorities are examining a suggested scheme of administrative arrangements to be established between Ireland and Vietnam, under the terms of the 1993 Hague Convention, for the resumption of intercountry adoption between the two States. The scheme was prepared and submitted to the Vietnamese authorities by the Adoption Authority of Ireland during the course of the Authority’s recent official visit to Hanoi in early January. The Authority currently awaits the response of the Vietnamese authorities in this regard.

The Adoption Authority has approved ARC Adoption Ltd as a registered accredited body for the purposes of adoption mediation within Vietnam and further applications from other bodies remain under consideration. Accredited agencies also require the approval of the Vietnamese authorities.

NOTICE – VIETNAM – 30 DECEMBER 2011

A delegation from the AAI will visit Vietnam in January 2012 to commence discussions on possible administration arrangements for inter country adoption between Ireland and Vietnam as provided for by Article 39(2) of the 1993 Hague Convention and Section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010.

NOTICE – VIETNAM – 29 SEPTEMBER 2011

Further to our previous advisory on the transmission of Post Placement Reports (PPRs) to Vietnam, dated 10 August, 2011, and our advisory of 19 September, 2011, regarding Vietnam generally, the Adoption Authority of Ireland is pleased to provide the following update:-

1. The Vietnamese Central Authority has indicated that the legal requirements to provide Post Placement Reports in respect of children adopted in Vietnam now applies solely to reports prepared in the first three years (i.e. only reports 1 – 6 are now required by the Vietnamese authorities).
2. The Irish Embassy in Vietnam has confirmed that it is willing to facilitate the provision of PPRs 1 – 6 to Vietnamese authorities.
3. The Authority understands that adoptive parents have already paid for the transmission, translation and notarisation of reports 1-6 through the offices of HHAMA. Accordingly, parents who are seeking to transmit one of the first six reports should note that the HSE will forward this report, as normal, directly to HHAMA's office for processing and delivery to the Irish Embassy in Hanoi, who will then transmit reports received to the Vietnamese Central Authority on behalf of the Adoption Authority of Ireland.
4. Although the contractual obligation to provide reports after the first three years (i.e. reports 7 and subsequent) has been removed by the Vietnamese authorities, parents who wish to forward these reports are assured that these will be welcomed by the Vietnamese authorities.Parents who wish to forward such reports should note that the translation, notarisation and transmission of those reports will be their responsibility.These reports should be posted directly to:

Ministry of Justice

Department of Adoption

60 Tran Phu Street

Ba Dinh District

Hanoi

Vietnam

NOTICE - VIETNAM- 19 SEPTEMBER 2011

1. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has been working closely with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in recent months to bring greater clarity to the situation regarding adoption of children from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.


2. In respect of existing adoptive parents, the Authority has been working to ensure the appropriate management of post placement reporting at this time. An advisory relating to the new arrangements will issue in the coming days.


3. In respect of prospective adoptive parents who had already registered with the Helping Hands Mediation Agency we have been working with the Agency to secure the status of currently registered applications and clarify the most appropriate arrangements regarding fees already paid.


4. The Authority, along with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has indicated its view that the current list of prospective adoptive parents will be honoured, in the event that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam recommences international adoptions for Irish applicants.


5. The Authority is aware that there is a high level of expectation regarding developments in Vietnam. The Authority has recently become aware that the entry into force of the Hague Convention in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will not occur until 1 January, 2012, at the earliest.


6. The Authority wishes to reiterate that it remains the prerogative of the Government of Vietnam as to which countries it will be co-operating with under the Convention. However, the Authority has been working closely with Minister Fitzgerald in fostering positive diplomatic relations with Vietnam. The Authority met Ambassador Vu Quang Minh on the 9th of September last with Minister Fitzgerald. It was clear from the meeting that the relationship with Ireland remains strong and the Ambassador is particularly anxious to develop further links with families of adopted children from Vietnam. The Authority has indicated that it will support the further development of those ties in whatever way it can in association with existing parent support groups. Minister Fitzgerald has issued a further statement regarding other positive exchanges at a diplomatic level.


7. The Authority cannot pre-empt the pace or nature of developments over the coming months. However, it is committed to working with the Minister to assist as may be required and in accordance with its functions under the Adoption Act, 2010. In addition, the Authority is committed to keeping prospective applicants as informed as is possible regarding developments. In this regard, the sensitive nature of this matter and the importance of our relationship with our Vietnamese counterparts will continue to guide us in communicating generally on this matter.

NOTICE - Vietnam - 10 August, 2011

The Adoption Authority is aware that a number of parents who have adopted from Vietnam are currently having Post Placement Reports (PPRs) prepared in respect of their child(ren) and are anxious to uphold their commitment to provide these to the Vietnamese authorities. The matter of the translation of PPRs into Vietnamese and their subsequent transmission to Vietnam in the absence of an accredited body is being urgently considered at present. It is hoped that a mechanism will be established to manage the translation and transmission of reports in the near future and further developments will be posted to this website.

Adoption Authority Reports Back on Progress in Vietnam Thursday, 19th May 2011

The Adoption Authority of Ireland met yesterday with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., following its visit to Vietnam last week. The Authority presented a report of its findings.

The Authority advised the Minister of significant improvements that have
occurred since November 2008. The Chairman, Geoffrey Shannon, said "It is
clear from our discussions on-the-ground that the Vietnamese Government
has introduced a significant programme of reform, including new laws on
adoption in line with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption; as
well as reforms to develop its wider child protection system."

The Authority also advised that, according to information available to it,
the earliest date for the entry into force of the Convention in Vietnam is
likely to be the 1st of October 2011.

The Minister advised the Authority that she will consider its report.
The Chairman said "I expect to meet the Minister again in two to three
weeks for further discussions on the matter."

The Authority reiterated that the adoption of children from any country
remains the prerogative of each sovereign state.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Adopting from Vietnam 18.05.12.pdf	Adopting from Vietnam	21 Kb