Parental rights to be discussed in the Dáil this morning

Frances Fitzgerald, the Minister for Justice, is due to bring the Children and Family Relationships Bill to the Cabinet this morning.

The bill covers over 170 sections and is responsible for extending guardianship, custody and adoption rights depending on family dynamic.

Under the Children and Family Relationships Bill, civil partners and cohabiting couples who have lived together for three years will be entitled to adopt.

The bill also entitles unmarried fathers to automatic guardianship rights providing they have lived with the mother continuously for a year, including three months after the birth of the child.

In addition to this, an individual who has lived with a parent for three years and acted as caregiver to the child for two years will be able to apply for custody or guardianship on day-to-day issues.

The area of assisted human reproduction is also covered under the bill and rights in this regard are set out and regulated.

The Cabinet also intends to discuss regulation regarding surrogacy and embryo donation.