Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

Given the contribution I made earlier, I must say to Senator Norris and the Labour Party I do not see anything wrong with that amendment. I heard a lovely couple, two women who live in County Kildare, being interviewed, perhaps on "The Late Late Show" or on the radio. Between them they had two children, the biological children of one of the women. They spoke about no arrangement being in place in the event of the death of the biological mother, yet from the time the two boys were very young, the female partner was the only other parent they had ever known. This amendment made me think of that interview. I ask the Minister whether there might be a case in which provision could be put in place by a same-sex couple to be enacted in the case of a death.

Before my husband died we had an arrangement which applied in the event of both of us being killed together. We had four children. We put a provision in place that in the event of both of us being wiped out at the same time, our children would go where we wanted them to go. We had chosen family members to look after and rear them as their own children. Perhaps nothing can be done with regard to in-laws in this case but might a couple, having all their faculties and being well, put a provision in place that if something were to happen to the biological mother, the children could be cared for by the partner?