Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

This amendment has much merit. Families do get into difficulties and there are times when they need a helping hand. Occasions arise when a special guardian may be needed temporarily. There are occasions when a child may be out of control and the parent, parenting on her own, cannot manage. It is also important a child in such a guardianship is not given a different surname or removed from the jurisdiction.

I support this amendment because it maintains the critical link with the birth parent. Its provisions would also give the courts greater flexibility when searching for a suitable person to care for a child. The amendment recognises everything in parenting is not mainstream. We have to legislate for when life is not perfect and this is a good example of that.