Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The measure is to ensure a reasonable degree of maturity in adoption applicants. Different age limits are applied in other areas, such as the age of consent, voting and so on. In this case, the age limit allows applicants a reasonable opportunity to evaluate their readiness for the procedures involved, which everyone knows to be complex. If we are guided by the best interests of children, it is in their best interests to provide for a reasonable degree of maturity in the Bill. The lower age limit of 21 years provides the right balance while ensuring that adoption is available to young people. While one can marry at 18 years of age and have children in the normal way, a few more years would strike a reasonable balance in the adoption application process.

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