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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Adoption Regulations.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

819 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether homosexual couples should have the right to have a family, if necessary through adoption. [19811/03]

Adoption is a service for children and the principle underpinning adoption legislation and practice is that of best interests of the child. No adult has a right to adopt and the principle of best interest of the child continues to be the basis of new developments in adoption.

Irish adoption law allows either married couples or single people to adopt if they have been found suitable. The effect of this is that where a non-married couple (whether same sex or heterosexual) living together wish to adopt, the adoption is legally only in one person's name. The partner in such cases has no parental or guardianship rights. Non-married, same sex couples are legally in the same position as non-married heterosexual couples. Birth mothers, and in the case of inter-country adoption the authorities in the sending country, have a significant role in the selection of adopters and they tend to select traditional nuclear families as adopters.

I initiated a consultation process on adoption legislation earlier this summer to give interested groups and individuals the opportunity to comment on existing and proposed adoption legislation. During the course of the consultation process, which will conclude with an oral consultation in October, I received a number of submissions on a variety of issues, including that of adoption by non married couples. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the consultation process by commenting on any of the issues at this stage.

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