Byrne welcomes commitment to give gay couples equal parenting rights

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the comments by the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter TD, about his intention to give gay couples equal parenting rights.

“Modern families come in all shapes and sizes, and I believe that it is only right that gay couples should be given the same parenting rights as straight couples. The current situation is discriminatory, whereby an individual who is gay can adopt a child, but a gay couple in a civil partnership cannot adopt a child.

“Addressing the anomalies in the existing law is the best way to protect children and their adoptive parents; without equal parenting rights we will only foster inequality and discrimination. Research shows that a lack of legal recognition can cause unnecessary stress for children and parents in a family unit which doesn’t conform to the traditional stereotype.

“We can’t condone a situation where some children are more equal than others. The most important thing for a child is to be cared for and loved, irrespective of whether their parents are gay or straight.

“I am pleased that Minister Shatter is taking a progressive and pragmatic approach to this issue, and that all anomalies surrounding parenting rights will be addressed before the gay marriage referendum.”

ENDS