Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 21:

In page 6, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:

"(12) In this section, "missing", in respect of a parent, means a parent who has had no contact whatsoever with either the child or the Health Service Executive for a continuous period of at least 1 year.".

I am concerned about the lack of clarification with regard to the term "missing". I can foresee this issue causing difficulty in future cases and it would be helpful if we clarified it in the Bill. The Minister has stated that the courts generally agree as to the meaning of "missing" but I wonder if this would withstand a challenge. If we were to copperfasten and clarify the matter in the Bill, it might help to prevent unnecessary legal battles in the future.