Irish couples will finally be able to adopt Vietnamese children by the end of the year follow discussions led by Irish Childrens’ Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

The minister confirmed that an agreement was to be signed with the Vietnamese Justice Minister, Ha Hung Cuong, in Dublin on Monday.

It means Vietnamese children will be adopted by Irish couples for the first time since the previous agreement ended in 2009.

The breakthrough in negotiations will come as a massive relief to more than 200 Irish couples who were in the early stages of the adoption process with Vietnam when a bilateral adoption agreement ended in May 2009.

Approximately nine couples in particular were at an advanced stage in the adoption process when the agreement came to an end.

Many of these couples had been in limbo as to what to do as they were unaware of the time-frame that it would take for negotiations to open up between both sides.

However after intense discussions, an official agreement will now be signed — paving the way for adoptions to be organized by Irish couples.

The first adoption is expected to take place by the year-end.

VietNamNet/SGT