FG request interim Vietnam adoption agreement

Fine Gael are asking the Government to introduce an interim adoption agreement to allow adoptions between Vietnam and Ireland.

The party are claiming that the Government is not helping 350 families in their efforts to adopt Vietnamese children.

A previous agreement between the two countries was allowed to lapse in May because of concerns, mainly from the US, over the adoption process in the country.

Minster for Children Barry Andrews wants to wait for a new UNICEF report into the process before signing a new agreement.

However, Fine Gael's Jim O'Keefe said this is unnecessary and unfair.

He said that an interim agreement would at least allow couples already cleared for adoption to complete the process.