Bill overhauling adoption regime signed into law

A bill overhauling Ireland’s adoption regime to give effect to the new children’s rights provisions of the Constitution have been signed into law.

Dr Katherine Zappone, minister for children and youth affairs, welcomed the signing of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016.

The prinicpal purpose of the bill is to give effect to article 42a of the Constitution. In particular, the Bill provides for the adoption of any child, regardless of the marital status of his/her parents.

It also provides that in any matter, application or proceedings under the Adoption Act 2010 before the Adoption Authority of Ireland or any Court, it shall regard the best interest of the child as the paramount consideration.

In respect of any child who is capable of forming his or her own views, the Authority or the Court shall ascertain the child’s views and such views shall be given due weight having regard to the age and maturity of the child.

Dr Zappone (pictured) said: “The decision of the people in the children referendum of November 2012 endorsed the proposition of the Government of the day to move the position of children on to a new level as regards recognition of the unique qualities, as well as vulnerabilities, of childhood and adolescence.

“It gave this generation an opportunity to author an enduring positive message to future generations - we place the welfare of children amongst the highest values of our society.”

She added: “I welcome all of these positive changes to the adoption regime; as a diverse society we now have many different types of families, and legislation is sometimes out of tune with the complex realities of modern family life.”