Guardianship proposals still fail fathers

Bill incorrectly assumes a child’s welfare is always best served by the relationship with the mother, writes Louise Crowley

THE proposals contained in the recently published General Scheme of the Child and Family Relationships Bill 2014 identify novel categories of fathers to whom guardianship status can be accorded.

While married parents have long been automatically recognised as joint guardians of their child, an unmarried father can only secure guardianship status by formal written agreement with the mother of the child or on foot of a successful application to the court under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964.