Mr. Cormac Quinlan:

This is giving the foster parent the decision-making authority to make those decisions in defined areas because the child is now with them long term on a full care order. It is empowering the foster carer as that child's de facto current parent to be able to support effective decision-making around that child. Parents will of course be advised. They may not be consulted fully about the decision, because the authority sits with the foster carer at that stage. The decision around the child remaining in care until 18 has been made before a court. We will have gone through all the due process requirements, that are rightly there, in protecting the rights or parents, children and anyone else.