Bill ignores unmarried fathers’ rights

THE Government is again ignoring the rights of unmarried fathers by refusing to register the appointment of unmarried fathers as guardians of their children.

In March 2003, Amen made a submission requesting that the Civil Registration Bill make provision for the recording of the appointment of unmarried fathers as guardians along with other life events such birth, marriage, divorce, nullity, etc. To date, the Government has refused to include these in the Civil Registration Bill which is going through its final stages in the Oireachtas.

The appointment of unmarried fathers as guardians is an important life event given the range of rights and duties it encompasses, including the religious, moral, intellectual, physical and social welfare of their children. It can have a vital bearing on issues such as children’s health, custody, passports, child abduction, social welfare entitlements, etc, and should be formally recorded with other important life events.