Vietnam 'ready to sign up to adoption convention'

It has emerged that following discussions between the Irish and Vietnamese authorities, Vietnam is preparing to ratify the Hague Convention on inter-country Adoption.

The international agreement, which Ireland signed up to last year, is a system of co-operation among countries ensuring that adoptions take place in the best interests of the children concerned.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, who recently met the Vietnamese Ambassador, has expressed confidence that Vietnam will sign up to the convention in the near future.