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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.

Mary Coughlan

Ceist:

131 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there are to change the adoption laws to allow for the adoption of children of a marriage; if there are any Irish cases before the European Court of Justice which will have implications for the existing ban on such adoptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7165/96]

The Adoption Act, 1988, provides for the adoption, in exceptional cases, of children whether born inside or outside marriage whose parents are deemed by the courts to have failed in their constitutional duty to care for their children. Part of the procedure under the Act involves an application to the High Court for an order authorising the adoption of the child concerned. I have no plans to amend the provisions of the 1988 Act and I am not aware of any Irish cases before the European Court of Human Rights in relation to this matter.

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