Treoir welcomes new children's bill

A group that represents unmarried parents has welcomed the new Child and Family Relationships Bill - but says it does not improve the rights of unmarried fathers who don't live with the mother.

Treoir says the provisions are discriminatory because they require a father to have lived with the mother of his child for 12 months before he can apply for guardianship.

It's advising unmarried fathers to seek a declaration of joint guardianship with their partner - but warns that there is no central database.

Margaret Dromey from Treoir is urging the government to establish a database because if a declaration is lost the father will not be able to exercise his rights.