Parliamentary Questions - Adoption Services

3 Feb 2012

Written Answer from Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Question

Jonathan O'Brien (SF - Cork North Central)

Question 506: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met with the Department for Children and Youth Affairs on the issue of introducing adoption rights for gay couples to allow them to both be adoptive parents of a child; if he will introduce legislation on same as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Answer

Alan Shatter (Minister, Department of Justice, Equality and Defence; FG - Dublin South)

Responsibility for adoption legislation and policy lies with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs who recently indicated in responding to a similar question (number 235 of 19 January 2012) that "Under the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010, the only persons who can jointly adopt are married couples. There are currently no proposals to change the legislation in this regard." I have not met with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the matter.