Frances Fitzgerald, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has received approval from the Cabinet for the Children and Family Relationship Bill.

The bill, which was brought before the Cabinet yesterday and described by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as the "most important change in family legislation since the foundation of the State", will be debated next week and officially enacted at the end of March.

Commenting on the developments, the minister said: "This is a major reform of family law which so clearly sets out to vindicate the equal right of every child to the recognition of their families."

The bill extends to over 170 sections and according to Frances Fitzgerald: "provides a bedrock upon which the diversity of families will be valued, recognised and protected in today's Ireland."

Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, spoke to RTÉ's Six One news and asserted that thousands of Irish families will be affected by the change in legislation.

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