Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The more one discusses this the more complicated it gets. I agree with Deputy Mathews that one cannot put a stop-clock on human relationships. If I come up with any brilliant ideas before this Bill goes to the Seanad, I will mention them to the Minister, and any necessary amendments can be introduced there. All we can do is air our concerns, provide for a review and consultation and monitor this closely.

The point I was making was that these particular criteria are totally arbitrary. It does not make any sense to me. An argument can be made for either the status quoor automatic guardianship for unmarried fathers, which could be problematic for the reasons outlined by Deputy Coppinger. How we reconcile this will require a stroke of genius on our part between now and the Seanad consideration of this Bill.

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