Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, my understanding is if there is a formal fostering arrangement in place under the appropriate regulations prior to the age of 18, then the minimum five-year period does not apply in that circumstance, namely, where it is a formal fostering arrangement under the regulations. That is the relevance of the regulations I referred to in my earlier contribution. The five years does not apply in that circumstance. It is a separate provision.