Minister comes under fire over comments

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan, has come under fire for arguing that guardianship is not a 'life event.'

Fine Gael's Brian Hayes has dismissed Mary Coughlan's view, saying that almost one child in three in Ireland is born to unmarried couples.

The disagreement has arisen over opposition amendments to the Civil Registration Bill, in which Fine Gael recommends that voluntary guardianship agreements be legally recognised.

Senator Hayes says he simply does not understand the Minister's thinking.