Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to give a brief response. The very content of the section referenced by the Minister is causing me the greatest puzzlement because some of it reflects the provisions I mentioned. It is extraordinarily perverse that we are spelling out the rights and obligations of third parties who are named as guardians by the courts without defining or spelling out in detail what being a guardian actually means to a child's parents. It really does not make sense. I would like to see the best possible legislation here. I have no interest beyond ensuring we have the best possible legislation that protects the best interests of the child and provides absolute clarity for parents regarding their rights and responsibilities. Most parents in happy families do not need to be told that. It is of particular importance where parents are estranged. It is distinctly odd to set out the rights and responsibilities of third parties who have been made guardians by the courts without also delineating the rights and responsibilities of parents as guardians, especially given that this is done in legislation worldwide. I just cannot fathom why we are doing this.