The Cabinet has approved Health Minister Simon Harris to draft legislation allowing some same-sex partners to both legally declare parentage of a child.
This action comes after years of LGBTQ+ activists and same-sex partners calling on the government to commence key parts of the Children and Family Relationships Act (2015).
The law will close a loophole and allow Harris to start commencing Parts Two and Three of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, the Journal.ie reports.
According to the Department of Health, the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 will tackle technical issues within the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015.
In doing so, Parts Two and Three of the act can be commenced. These parts address parentage through donor-assisted human reproduction.
This new legislation will allow some same-sex partners to declare legal parentage and seek a retrospective declaration of parentage as well.
These parts of the act need to be commenced in order for a child conceived through a sperm donor to have their mother's same-sex spouse legally recognised as a parent, too.
Speaking on the approval of the drafting, the Health Minister said, “The commencement of Parts Two and Three of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 will allow same-sex couples to seek a retrospective declaration of parentage.
"This will be a very welcome step for lots of families. I hope to be in a position to introduce this legislation into the Dáil before the summer and commence in the autumn."
