LATEST NEWS
NEW SOUTH EAST REGIONAL BRANCH FOR VIS
Posted 7th November, 2010
From Jan 2011, we will have a regional branch called VIS South East.
Please watch out for more news on future events'
MID-AUTUMN MOONCAKE FESTIVAL
Posted 30th August, 2010
This year's mooncake kiddies party is being held at Mallow GAA Complex on 26th September 2010.
Looking forward to seeing you there!!
MINISTER BARRY ANDREWS T.D. ANNOUNCEMENT
Posted 21st January, 2010
Minister Barry Andrews, T.D. Announces Government Decision To Suspend Bilateral Intercountry Adoption Negotiations With Vietnam
Thursday, 14th January 2010
The Government has decided to suspend indefinitely negotiations on a new bilateral intercountry adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This will have the effect of suspending intercountry adoption from Vietnam until such time as the Adoption Bill 2009 has been enacted and Ireland and Vietnam have both ratified the provisions of the Hague Convention.....
BARRY ANDREWS MEETING
Posted 29th December, 2009
Viet Irish Support, ICAA & VINAF met with Minister Barry Andrews, on December 7th last. He was seeking feedback from the adoption community regarding the recently published UNICEF / ISS report which the Vietnamese government have signed off and accepted. He advised that it imposes on him more responsibility for greater vigilance regarding the adoption process from Vietnam.
He again highlighted that he was very impressed during his visit to Vietnam in July 09 with the changes which had occurred e.g. Central Authority is taking more responsibility over provincial operations, new personnel, new processes. During this visit the vietnamese authorities also asked for the payment of fees to be completed at a different time from the referral stage.
He was hopeful that Vietnam would ratify Hague in 2011 and hasn't decided yet on whether or not to complete the negotiations for a new Bi-lateral agreement. Also, that the term of the Bi-lateral would be very short as it would subsequently expire when administrative arrangements would be in place following the Vietnamese membership of the Hague Convention.
He is mindful that families would like an immediate decision but in reality it will be early Jan 2010 when he will make recommendations to the government on whether to proceed with the Bi-lateral negotiations. Also, he was unable to give any guarantees/reassurances for the 200+ families whose applications with HHMA are currently suspended.
Specific to the ISS report, he confirmed that there is continuing exchange of correspondence between Adoption Board & HHMA.
When asked for direction/advice re: the waiting families - he was reluctant to commit. Representatives from all of the support groups strongly highlighted the emotional experience by the families.
The current status of the adoption bill is that it has completed the Senate and tomorrow Tuesday, it is before the Dail Health Committees. Then it will return to the Dail for a 2nd hearing and it is anticipated that it will be signed into legislation early 2010.
Tracing was another topic which was discussed and the Minister recognises that it will be more prevalent in the future as our children get older and is dependent on co-operation of the relevant governing bodies in Ireland & Vietnam.
The representatives did ask about his interpretation of transitional arrangements and he is still unclear as to which stage within the adoption process qualifies for acceptable criteria for the extending of transitional arrangements to prospective applicants.
Several times during our meeting, he mentioned that once the Irish authorities are satisfied that a child is "adoptable" that they are very happy and committed to supporting prospective applicant.
We would also like to thank members for their in depth feedback which was very useful in preparation for the meeting.
RECOMMENDED WEBSITE
Posted 19th August, 2009
A VIS member has recommended this online magazine which deals exclusively with school-related issues regarding adoption.
Here is the link for your perusual:
UPDATE ON ADOPTIONS IN VIETNAM - IRISH TIMES ARTICLE
Posted 19th August, 2009
THE OFFICE of the Minister for Children has invited officials from Vietnam to Ireland in September in an effort to move talks forward on the resumption of an adoption agreement between the two countries.
Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews, who visited Vietnam in late June, said there had been good progress in his talks with officials then but as yet there remained no date in sight for the resumption of an agreement between the two countries.
The State’s five-year bilateral agreement with Vietnam on adoption expired on May 1st this year, leaving more than 200 couples, who had applied to adopt from the country, in limbo until a new agreement is signed.
The previous agreement was allowed to lapse due to international concerns about the adoption process in Vietnam, voiced primarily in a US government report published last year.
During his visit earlier in the summer, Mr Andrews asked officials to consider allowing 20 Irish couples, whose applications had been fully processed by the Department of International Adoptions in Hanoi by May 1st, to be facilitated in their adoptions.
This request was acceded to by the Hanoi government and those 20 couples will be allowed to travel and adopt.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said yesterday this had been a “gesture” by the Vietnamese government.
She agreed there was controversy as to why a higher number of couples were not included in the request but stressed the 20 couples’ applications had been fully processed by May 1st.
“We have been advising people that we cannot guarantee anything but it is our intention to conclude an agreement as soon as we possibly can.”
Asked what was causing the delays, she said: “It’s very complicated.”
She said both states were intent on ratifying the Hague Convention on International Adoptions and at the same time, both countries were in the process of changing their adoption legislation “substantially”.
“So we are trying to get an agreement which bridges the two existing legal regimes and the two pending legal regimes. It’s a negotiation with a foreign government and they have a very different legal system to that which we have.
“The difficulty is we don’t want to add to the frustration couples have and at the same time it is important that the best interests of children are protected.”
Asked whether the 200-plus couples who have applied for adoption from Vietnam should consider other countries, she said she could not direct people, but added: “It would be understandable if people did.
“We have issued an invitation to Vietnamese officials to come here in September but it may not be possible to hold meetings then. It is hoped we can."
MEETING WITH MINISTER BARRY ANDREWS ON 24TH JUNE 2009
posted 24th June, 2009
Today we met with the Minister Barry Andrew’s and the Adoption Board along with other support groups, which included VINAF, IAA and ICAA.
The Minister advised us that he is going to Vietnam on a private and exploratory visit which will also include visits to some Irish Aid Projects. This is not an official visit and as yet the Office for the Minister of Children & Youth Affairs has not had a response from Vietnam regarding the interim agreement.
The Adoption Board indicated to the Minister their strong support for his trip to Vietnam. The Board also outlined the very positive experience with dealing with Vietnam and expressed empathy with applicants seeking to adopt from Vietnam. They have also advised that they are available to discuss all aspects with adoptive families and support groups and will keep us updated of any new developments.
The next couple of weeks may well be a very sensitive time in these negotiations. In order not to jeopardise the desired result, we urge our members to keep publicity to a minimum during that period.
Viet Irish Support strongly expressed our support to the Minister in this initiative.
ADDITION TO MINISTER ANDREW'S STATEMENT OF 12TH JUNE 2009
posted 20th June, 2009
Clarification to previously posted statment
Just received an email from Terri McCormack, from the Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, to clarify that any family who have a referral for Vietnam will continue to have their application processed to conclusion and will be supported in that process by Helping Hands Mediation Agency. A copy of statement with the added information can be downloaded here
BILATERAL AGREEMENT UPDATE
posted 13nd June, 2009
Statement by Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on Vietnam and Intercountry Adoption, June 12, 2009
As you know, I informed the representative adoptive groups over three weeks ago that the Irish Government had officially written to the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to request an interim international adoption agreement. The Irish Government awaits a response from the Vietnamese authorities on the interim agreement. The request is now a matter for the Vietnamese Government and as such it would be improper for the Irish Government to seek to influence or interfere with this decision making process. However, my officials are in constant contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy on the ground in Hanoi.
I have been informed by the Vietnamese Government that Helping Hands’ mediation license has been revoked. The Government had requested that the mediation license for Helping Hands be suspended rather than revoked in light of ongoing discussions on a bilateral agreement. In the absence of an intercountry adoption agreement, the Vietnamese Government was not in a position to make any exception to the granting of a license to Helping Hands. As a consequence, 20 applications, which are currently in Hanoi, will be returned to the applicants. These applicants were not given referrals before the May 1st deadline. This is obviously disappointing news for all concerned.
The reinstatement of the Helping Hands license is necessary to facilitate adoptions from Vietnam. The Irish Government is actively trying to establish the status of the request for an interim agreement and the associated licensing requirements. I have spoken to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, T.D., and he has spoken to the Vietnamese Authorities this afternoon and asked for their assistance in facilitating an interim agreement.
As I stated back in May, the purpose of providing for an interim agreement is to allow the necessary time and space to conclude discussions on the text of the bilateral agreement already under consideration. That remains the priority and all expert opinion suggests that a bilateral agreement is the best mechanism to provide assurances around international adoption and improve standards.
I realise that the pending Dáil summer recess is causing concern with fears being expressed that Government business will be suspended until the Dáil reconvenes in late September. This is not the case. I have already advised all of the interested parties of my willingness to travel to Hanoi to support the successful conclusion of these discussions, if that is deemed appropriate. That remains the position.
The uncertainty surrounding this process has caused stress and anxiety to applicants/prospective adoptive parents. This is something I am acutely aware of and any information that comes to hand will be shared without delay.
BILATERAL AGREEMENT UPDATE
posted 2nd June, 2009
We have been contacted by Barry Andrews office to say that Ireland has formally, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, requested an interim
agreement with Vietnam so that adoptions can resume.
A response is awaited from the Vietnamese side.
It is hoped that this will allow time and space to further the negotiations on a new bilateral treaty.
We have been assured that the matter is receiving the highest priority and that Minister Andrews is willing travel to Vietnam, if necessary, to advance the process.
MINISTER'S STATEMENT
posted 28th April, 2009
We have been asked to update you form the Office of the Minister for Children:
"The Minister has asked that I convey the following to you:
A delegation representing the Irish Government travelled to Hanoi, Vietnam
April 20th to progress negotiations on a new bilateral international adoption
agreement between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The
delegation, which was led by an official from the Office of the Minister for
Children and Youth Affairs and advised by the Adoption Board, returned to
Ireland this weekend and is currently preparing a detailed report for the
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. This report will inform the
Minister’s recommendations which he will bring to the Cabinet meeting of
April 28th. "
FUNDRAISING CALENDARS
posted 28th April, 2009
As you are aware we have begun fundraising for the Christina Noble Children's Foundation. To date we have raised nearly €6,000 for an intensive care unit for premature babies in HCM city.
Recently, three committee members recently travelled to Dublin to meet with Christina Noble herself. Christina is very impressed with our fundraising and urged us to continue fund raising as funding is badly needed.
We as a committee have come up with the idea of A Themed Calendar showing themed photographs of members children. For example February would show photographs with a Valentines Day theme, March would be a St. Patrick's Day theme and so on.
These Calendars would be strictly for Sale to members and their families only.
If would would like your child(ren) to be photographed for this calendar, please send their name(s) and age to the following email addresses:
Mandy Cotter at mandy.mulcahycotter@gmail.com or Deirdre Hennessy @deirdre1965@gmail.com.
No child will be photographed without a signed consent form from their parent(s).
Details of which will be forwarded to you at a later date.
As well as being for a very worthwhile cause, these will be lovely keepsakes for our children showing their involvement in helping children from their birth country.
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