Adoptive parents left in limbo

FRUSTRATION is growing among at least 30 Clare prospective adoptive parents, who are in an agonising limbo about adopting a child from Vietnam, following the unexpected suspension of an adoption bilateral agreement last May.
A number of couples are also facing a dramatic race against time as clearance, following a lengthy assessment process over a number of years, only lasts for six months. As previously advised by the Vietnamese authorities, no new applications have been accepted by that country since April 1 last.
In an exclusive interview with The Clare Champion, a North Clare mother has revealed the heartbreak being experienced by Clare couples trying to adopt a first or second child from Vietnam.
Noreen Forde and her husband, Joseph, who are waiting to adopt a second child from Vietnam, have appealed to the Minister for Children, Barry Andrews, for a clear definitive statement about whether or not the previous bilateral agreement will be extended.
Like 350 other couples nationwide, the couple have been forced to play a frustrating waiting game since they secured approval for a second child last April but are still in the dark about the time frame for a possible resolution. Approval only lasts six months and with five months almost elapsed, they are now facing a race against time.
Expressing disappointment about an update report provided by Minister Andrews in the Dáil last week in response to questions from deputies about the current impasse, Noreen claimed there was very little to provide hope for prospective adoptive parents, who expected the minister to announce the issue was resolved.
“The waiting is the worst. We have been left in limbo. Parents want to know what is really happening. We have been promised a statement for months.
“The minister mentioned two international reports, the Molissa Report and the International Social Services Report. If these reports were so important, why didn’t he mention them before?
“The Vietnam Bilateral Agreement was the first adoption agreement in recent years between Ireland and another country. It was put up there on a pedestal and we were told that all other adoption agreements would be based on this one. It was supposed to the first of many agreements but that hasn’t happened,” she said.
Noreen said it is extremely difficult to adopt a child.
“There were only two Irish children adopted by non-related parents in the last two years. Most of the Irish adoptions involve a relative or someone who gets involved in a second relationship,” she said.
“Adopting an Irish child is effectively not an option for most people, who don’t know what countries they can apply to for adoptions. People don’t know if the Vietnam option is closed or open.
“A lot of people who are hoping to adopt a child aren’t in a position to talk about it. Some of them opt not to tell family and friends because they don’t know how many years they will be waiting and if they will be successful,” she added.
The Fordes were part of a delegation who met Minister Andrews in the Clare Youth Service office in Ennis last April and recalled that the minister assured them he would issue a statement clarifying the situation in the near future.
On April 28 last, they were overjoyed to receive approval to adopt a second child from Vietnam. However, this joy proved to be short lived and they were devastated to learn that the Irish Government had cancelled the existing bilateral agreement on May 1.
They were shocked, as it was widely anticipated that the existing agreement, which has been hailed as a blueprint for other countries, would be extended for another five years. Even if the agreement was reached in the near future, it could take up to two years before they adopt their second child.
Noreen, née Conway, married Joseph Forde 11 years ago and they have lived since then in Carron. In early 2004, they applied for their first adoption and secured approval in April 2008 for their pride and joy, Kim-Ly, which means ‘Golden Lion’ in Vietnamese. Kim-Ly will be two years old next month.
Acknowledging that some applicants found the whole adoption process “invasive” and “protracted”, Noreen said they sailed through the process, which she felt needed plenty of checks and balances, considering a child was being entrusted into the care of new parents in a different country.
Despite their work to date obtaining clearance for a second child, Noreen stressed they don’t want another agreement just for the sake of it. If a serious obstacle emerges, she stressed that couples should be able to make an informed decision provided the minister gave all the relevant information to them immediately.
Their request for assistance is being supported by Deputy Joe Carey, who has expressed concern that Clare adoptive parents will face unacceptable delays if the minister continued to wait for the completion of two reports on adoption procedures from Vietnam.
“The Government has commissioned reports instead of taking actions here. We have been hearing from Minister Andrews all summer that progress was being made and that talks between authorities in Ireland and Vietnam were nearing completion.
Obviously, those talks have broken down and now many families are left in a situation where there could be long-term delays on their adoption procedures.
“I know of several County Clare families who are now left in a frustrating situation. The majority of these families have been cleared for adoption and have already gone through rigorous procedures. Now, our Government is letting them down by not having a adoption agreement to replace the previous one, which lapsed last May,” he said.
Minister Andrews reiterated in a statement last week that the Government’s objective is to provide a regime in which the child is at the centre of the adoption process, whether it is an international or domestic adoption and that adoptions are effected in a manner that is safe and secure.
He said that the most important development in achieving that objective is the creation of an appropriate legislative regime, which recognises the changed and changing global situation regarding adoption over the last 20 years.
The Adoption Bill, which includes the regime of the Hague Convention, provides an assurance for individual children, their families and the State, that appropriate procedures have been followed and that the adoption was effected in the best interests of the child.
Minister Andrews stressed that he would be failing in his duty to protect children if he did not acknowledge and consider the content of two reports undertaken concerning child welfare, protection and adoption in Vietnam extremely carefully, before deciding on the next step.
The Minister noted that the reports also served to highlight the commitment of the Vietnamese Government to ensuring that the adoption process in Vietnam is in line with the best international standards and their willingness to address issues at the core of that commitment.
He added that he was deeply aware of the angst, frustration and emotion that prospective adoptive parents continue to experience and had communicated at every opportunity updates on the matters and would continue to do so.
The Clare Champion submitted a number of queries to Minister Andrews’ office but hadn’t received a reply at the time of going to press.