The reason I issued the statement today about the Dept. of Foreign Affairs’  (FA) lack of expertise delaying adoptions for 20 approved couples, is yet again that prospective parents and waiting babies are the victims of the lack of determined action and the bi-lateral cock-up by Minister Barry Andrews.

These 20 couples’ dossiers were in Vietnam prior to the May 1 break-down deadline. Accordingly, the very least he should do is enlist in good faith the experience of the key staff in Helping Hands to assist the Adoption Board to finalise the promised/ approved 20 families still in limbo. Expecting the Dept. of FA   to have the appropriate know-how is another sure recipe for delay and further heartache.

Having experienced a delay for another reason myself in the past as a prospective adoptive parent, I know the stress is enormous. It permeates your whole life. I just don’t know how these families are coping.

I was further disgusted to read in yesterdays Irish Times piece (front page) that the excuse for delay in the case of the other 350 waiting families was that any further new adoptions to Ireland from Vietnam may not be legal/ratified in Ireland. How could that be, if they are prepared to ratify the approved 20 couples?  It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Clearly, Minister Andrews and his Dept are stalling til the Adoption bill is enacted into law.  Procedure wins while humans suffer. . .