Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree entirely. This goes to the heart of the legislation because the parental order removes a constitutional parental right. It is very serious legislation. The point Deputy Shortall is making goes to the heart of this. The answer to the question in the Bill is very clear; it is that the birth mother is the legal parent until the parental order. This is the position under the Bill.