Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is speaking as if all of the other safeguards can be disregarded. That is not the position. All those safeguards should remain in place but the primary consideration should be the best interests of the child. That is a long-established principle, recognised as one we should adhere to. The Minister is talking about a worst-case scenario where all the other safeguards are dispensed with and this is the only thing that matters. A court will decide on this but irrespective of the other circumstances, the main consideration should be the best interests of the child. That is the point I am making. I think this is an extra safeguard. It is not a matter of dispensing with the other safeguards.

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