Inter-Country Adoption Legislation Debated

31 Jan 2012

Comments from Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, TD (SF, Cavan/Monaghan) from the Dail debate on Inter-Country Adoption, 26 January 2012:

"...I am mindful of the advice provided by the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan, on the Adoption Act 2009. I urge the Minister to take on board and implement her outstanding recommendations, especially that consideration be given to requiring that bilateral agreements with states not party to the Hague Convention be reviewed periodically. I am disappointed the State did not see fit to see to address the adoption rights of same-sex couples in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2011. It is an outstanding issue that has been raised time and again. I can only describe this as a deliberate omission, which is a source of much sadness and disappointment for many gay and lesbian couples. People who wish to provide loving homes for children should not be barred from doing so because of their gender or sexuality. In 2012, I would have expected the Government to have seen fit to address this issue."