Reilly: No side ‘using children as pawns’ in marriage equality referendum

Children’s Minister James Reilly has accused the no side in the marriage equality referendum of a “bogus and misleading” approach by using children as pawns to spread fear.

Fri, 17 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Conall Ó Fá;tharta

Speaking at an Adoption Authority seminar on the implications of the Children and Family Relationships Act for adoption practice, Mr Reilly said the planned legislation had “nothing to do with the referendum”.

“There is nothing to fear from treating every committed, long-term relationship equally,” said Mr Reilly. “You do not dilute a right by extending it. Children should not be used as pawns by campaigners in this referendum to spread fear.”

The authority’s chairman, Geoffrey Shannon, said sole applicants, regardless of sexual orientation, have been in a position to be assessed for adoption “for over two decades”.

“The Children and Family Relationships Act extends the right to an assessment for adoption to cohabiting couples who have lived together for three years, and to civil partner,” said Mr Shannon.

“The best interests of the child has been and will continue to be the overarching requirement in determining whether a married couple, a cohabiting couple, civil partners or a sole applicant are suitable to adopt.”

Mr Shannon said the planned legislation is “the most important change in family law in a generation” as it places the best interests of the child at the centre of all decisions on custody, guardianship, and adoption.

“The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 adopts a comprehensive human rights-based approach to children’s human rights and, when fully commenced, will remove several roadblocks within the legal system that stand in the way of children having the best possible family life,” he said.