He may have recently vacated the role, but former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs James Reilly still has reform on his mind.
The Deputy Leader of Fine Gael has called on his successor, Minister Katherine Zappone, to scrap what he describes as an ‘offensive’ measure relating to adoptive parents’ age in the Republic of Ireland.
Under the current measure, adoptive parents in the Republic cannot adopt children who are more than 40 years younger than them.
According to RTE.ie, Reilly raised the issue during a meeting of the Seanad today, during which he branded the measure ‘antiquated’.
Addressing how more Irish women are now having babies in their forties, Reilly insisted that Minister Zappone needs to start a serious discussion on reform with the Children and Family Agency, Tusla.
“Many people who are parents of children, who are more than 40 years younger than them, find it offensive,” he told the assembly.
Do you agree that this measure needs to be scrapped?
