Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am not sure of the motivation behind this. It is a dilution of the principle that the same standards of eligibility and suitability should apply to all applicants in adoptions in order to protect the interests of the children proposed to be adopted. I cannot see how a married couple can be separated as envisaged by the first amendment so that one could be assessed positively while setting aside concerns that would arise after assessing the other parent separately or if one parent would have failed if he or she applied as a single adopter. Regarding the suggestion that a lack of money is a bar to adoption, section 34(c) states that a person has adequate financial means to support the child. This does not mean one must be rolling in money, simply that one must be able to provide for the child's needs. That is not unreasonable where we are creating a permanent link between a child and a prospective adoptive parent. The criteria set out are reasonable and motivated by the interests of ensuring the welfare of the child is paramount. I do not accept these amendments because of the dilution of the standards contemplated.