McDowell seeks debate on adoption rights for unwed couples

The Tánaiste Michael McDowell is calling for a national debate about adoption rights for co-habiting couples.

Mr McDowell was responding to questions about a new report from the Law Reform Commission seeking greater rights for same-sex and heterosexual couples.

The commission wants couples who have been living together for three years or more to be afforded greater rights even if they do not avail of the Government's plants to introduce civil partnership laws.

Its report does not make any proposals in relation to adoption rights, but Mr McDowell signalled today that he would be in favour of granting such rights to unmarried couples.

He said the situation raised a number of issues about social policy and fairness and called for a national debate on the matter.