Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the Deputy's objective. I can confirm that the definition of "parent" in section 1 of the Bill, as amended, states that, for the purposes of the scheme, "parent" includes a person acting in loco parentis. As a guardian is acting in loco parentis, any reference in the Bill to "parent" must, therefore, be understood to include a guardian. As the amendment proposed is already provided for in the Bill, I am not accepting it. I thank the Deputy, however, for raising this important issue in respect of guardians.

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