Seanad debates
Thursday, 8 May 2003
National Standards for Foster Care: Statements.
This is done in a much more open way than we are used to, but it is going to be introduced here because I have talked to the vice-chairman of the Adoption Board about it. A more open adoption situation emerges and the birth mother meets the parents to discuss the situation. It may be decided that adoption is the right option to proceed with. It is not envisaged, however, that the birth mother would lose total contact with her child; it is envisaged that she would have whatever contact is settled upon between her and the adoptive parents. This is the sort of initiative we should try to encourage here. Perhaps some short-term fostering parents would consider this because many of these sort of parents are extremely experienced people and might be a very good middle ground for such discussions to take place.
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