Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 60:

In page 39, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:“Central Register for Statutory Declarations for Joint Guardianship

6C. The Minister shall cause to be established and maintained a register to be known as the Central Register for Statutory Declarations for Joint Guardianship, the purpose of which is to provide protection for the statutory declaration documents which grant guardianship rights to unmarried fathers in respect of their children.".

We discussed this amendment previously on Committee Stage. It arises out of representations from groups such as Treoir who seek that a central register for statutory declarations be put in place. Apparently, this is not currently the case, and this creates difficulties for parents, particularly fathers. I believe this is an entirely reasonable proposition, as per the groups' submissions on the Bill. I hope the Minister will accept it.

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