Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Therefore, the Deputy is suggesting the case should not be referred back to the deciding officer who was involved in making the original decision. It is very difficult to make a decision in a case such as this, particularly as both parents produced evidence to support their claims. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is extremely difficult to achieve an outcome which is favourable to both parents in circumstances where they are in dispute with each other. The best interests of the child must be the prime consideration of the Department in the context of its actions based on the evidence. This matter is now the subject of an appeal.

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