Fathers’ rights group warns of two-tier family law system
Tens of thousands of men are believed to have had no access to their children over the festive season, according to the Unmarried Fathers of Ireland (UFI).
It warned plans for a constitutional amendment on children’s rights late next year could create a two-tier system of family law.
“This is the golden opportunity for the Government to call a referendum and put it to the people to decide if we want to bring the interpretation of the family in line with international laws,” said spokesman Donnacha Murphy.
A vote on the issue is planned for the summer and the Oireachtas committee on the constitutional amendment on children has been set up to agree recommendations by April.
The UFI has yet to be consulted on the wording.
The group believes there are about 120,000 unmarried fathers in the country and with laws as they stand the vast majority have no legal access to their children unless they have been officially named guardians.
A UFI survey earlier in the month found 80% of unmarried fathers do not expect to see their kids this Christmas.
The committee’s terms of reference include drawing up recommendations for making the rights of children more explicit; removing obstacles for adoption of children in care; and ensuring the best interests of the child apply in court relating to adoption, guardianship, custody and access.
The proposed wording includes a uniform standard of child protection for all children, regardless of their parents’ martial status.
“If these proposals were to be introduced it would create a two-tier system of children’s rights where children in stable families based on marriage would be sitting on a constitutional pedestal, whereas those from unmarried families would only receive a limited form of protection,” said Mr Murphy.
“The current proposals will further erode the limited parental rights unmarried parents have.”
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