The Child and Family Relationships Bill – an important moment for families

Published: Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today welcomed the approval of the Child and Family Relationships Bill as a milestone in the protection of children’s rights in Ireland.

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“The Child and Family Relationships Bill  will put children at the heart of family law, provide legal clarity around various family types and address discrimination faced by children in non-marital families, as well as addressing key issues relating to guardianship, custody, access, maintenance, adoption and parentage.

Orla O’Connor concluded,
“By placing the rights of the children at the heart of family law reform we also recognise fully all the different families that exist in Ireland.   We believe this Bill has the potential to make a difference by explicitly recognising not only the role and the caring responsibilities of both parents but also the wider range of relationships that a child may have with others such as step-parents, grandparents and the caring responsibilities and rights which should be associated with those relationships. It should be noted however that while recognising different rights and relationships, including the rights of separated parents or grandparents, the safety of the child and also the safety of their mother must always remain paramount. It is very positive that Bill makes provision for the courts to take the child’s best interest into account and defines it in a broad manner including, meaningful relationships, psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being as well as family violence.”

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For more information, please contact Sarah Clarkin, Communications Officer at NWCI, 085 86 19 087.