Govt publishes 'wide-ranging' Child and Family Relationship Bill

The Government has published the long-awaited Child and Family Relationship Bill.

The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald says the bill is aimed at catching up with the reality of family life.

The Taoiseach has described the measures as the biggest update to such laws since the foundation of the State.

The full bill can be read here.

Running to 106 pages and with 172 sections it deals with issues such as adoption by same sex couples, guardianship, custody and maintenance.

The Dáil is expected to begin passing the legislation next week and it should have cleared all stages in the Oireachtas by March 24.

Minister Fitzgerald says the bill is about giving security and stability to Irish families.

It deals with adoptions, step-parenting, co-habiting 'partners', donors, assisted reporduction and same-sex parenting. At first glance, it would appear to cover every kind of conceivable family unit.

A group that represents unmarried parents has welcomed the new 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 is advising unmarried fathers to seek a declaration of joint guardianship with their partner, but warns that there is no central database.

Minister Fitzgerald said: "Well this is very wide-ranging legislation to really catch up with the reality of Irish family life and to make sure that we can provide more stability and security for children in families and for the people who are parenting them.

"We are looking at the whole variety of family types."