REACTION:THE GAY and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) said it was very concerned by the Supreme Court decision which "rejects a same-sex headed family as a de facto family".
Glen director Brian Sheehan said the judgment highlighted “the importance and urgency of providing legal support and recognition” of the many children being parented by same-sex couples in Ireland, which he said should form part of the Civil Partnership Bill which is moving through the Dáil.
“Providing a legal framework for parenting, with the welfare of children the paramount guiding principle, will also help clarify obligations and responsibilities from the outset,” he said.
“Such a legal framework should help to avoid in the future the emotional trauma to which all the parties in this case have been subjected.” Mr Sheehan said there was no mechanism for a child in a same-sex-headed family to establish a legal connection to their non-biological parent. “This is not in the best interests of the child,” he added.
The decision was welcomed by the Iona Institute, whose director, David Quinn, said: “This decision respects the rights of both fathers and children. A biological father has a right to know and have access to his child, and a child has a right to know and have access to his or her biological father.”
Mr Quinn said it was clear the Government must move to regulate the assisted human reproduction industry and to do so in a way that is fully child-centred.
“The best way to do this is to enshrine in such any regulations the right of a child to be raised by their mother and father,” he said. “Anything else fails children, and puts the wishes of adults ahead of the rights of children.”
