Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not putting it into legislation, but it will be done by way of administrative response from the Department of Social Protection. I have already had discussions with the Department and it will provide that information, just as information is provided stating that a birth must be registered within three months and where that can be done. All new parents find out about that and register their children. We will ensure that the information about the statutory declaration is made available, and I have a commitment from the Department of Social Protection that it will become involved in making sure the information is provided. That is a big change and it arose from the discussion here and the contributions of Deputies Collins and Mac Lochlainn about the need to create far more awareness of the rights of the father and how the father can guarantee them. Once there is agreement with the mother, the statutory declaration is open. Many fathers do not fill out that form. It is a relatively simple declaration to make before a peace commissioner or commissioner for oaths. We are dealing with the information issues on that.

The question of maintaining the records was raised. It is a very interesting one. We do not have a record of guardians in this country. This has not just arisen in the context of this Bill. Guardianship decisions are taken in the courts all the time. Many fathers go directly to court when there is disagreement with the mother to get their guardianship rights asserted. The courts refuse between 5% and 10% on the basis that it is not considered to be in the child’s best interests, including with regard to the range of issues we have touched on.

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