Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are thousands of fathers and mothers who are not married but who propose to live together, are living together, or have lived together but separated, all of whom share parenting relationships. Many of those people have not sought a declaration. Where a relationship between a mother and father breaks down, the mother might not agree to sign the declaration, even though she should do so. That is a problem.

Deputy Boyd Barrett appeared to be suggesting that the status quocontinue, in that we already have in place a system of statutory declaration. However, the mother must to agree to it. As I understand it, under this Bill the mother still has to agree to it.

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