Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 20, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:

"(a) the birth of the child has been registered, and either the particulars of the father have been registered or the mother has sworn and furnished to the accredited body a statutory declaration that the father is unknown or missing, and cannot be traced using reasonable inquiries, unless the court permits placement notwithstanding a failure or refusal to swear such a statutory declaration,".

The Bill does not specifically require a child's birth to be registered before placement for adoption. This is an omission. More fundamentally, the father's details should be registered where adoption is contemplated unless the mother completes a statutory declaration to the effect that the father is unknown or missing and cannot be traced using reasonable inquiries. We believe the father's rights should be enhanced in this provision.