Ireland to sign historic adoption agreement with Vietnam

The Irish Adoption Authority is due to sign a historic agreement with Vietnam tomorrow to pave the way for the resumption of adoptions between our two countries.

It is good news for hundreds of Irish couples, who were in the process of adopting children from Vietnam until a bi-lateral adoption agreement lapsed in May 2009.

The Vietnamese Justice Minister Mr Ha Hung Cuong is in Dublin this weekend, ahead of the expected signing of a new agreement tomorrow.

Today, Mr Cuong is attending a Family Day in Farmleigh, hosted by the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald.

If tomorrow's signing goes ahead, it will mean Irish couples can restart the process of adopting children from Vietnam.

That process stopped when the bi-lateral agreement lapsed following a series of scandals over fraudulent adoptions and concerns for child welfare.

However, those seeking to adopt may still face significant delays because new safeguards in Vietnam mean there will be fewer children available to adopt. -Breaking News.ie