Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Section 18 of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 amends section 37 of the Adoption Act 2010 to provide that a couple who are civil partners of each other and a cohabiting couple and a step-parent are included in the categories of persons who may apply to the Child and Family Agency for an assessment of eligibility and suitability and for the issuance by the Adoption Authority of a declaration of eligibility and suitability in accordance with that assessment. The section also provides that a step-parent may adopt a child where that child has had a home with the child's parent and step-parent for a continuous period of not less than two years at the date of the application for the adoption order. It also provides that the Adoption Authority of Ireland has discretion around the making of an adoption order where a step-parent applies to adopt a child where the child has not had a home with the child's parent and step-parent for a continuous period of not less than two years. Provision is made for adoption in these circumstances in the primary legislation. Regulations are not required and on this basis, I do not intend to accept the proposed amendment.