Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I echo much of what has been said on this amendment which Senator McCarthy has indicated he will withdraw. This is a very significant area. Senator Walsh has given an example and there are many examples in ordinary life where fathers are really not that interested in knowing their child even though they are living down the road. Being a parent brings responsibility and for a long time in our laws we have allowed that responsibility to be avoided. It is incumbent upon us, as legislators, to ensure that both parents, if possible, can be made responsible for their children, the first step of which is the registration at birth. This is a significant subject for debate and I am glad to hear the Minister is actively thinking about it. He realises it is a very complex area which will probably also come within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when any amendments are made. This debate is timely when we are facing into a constitutional amendment on children's rights. The rights of children are paramount. The Ombudsman for Children spoke today about the rights of the child. It shows the nation's coming of age when this reality is faced up to. We have waited quite a while for it and it is overdue.

The amendment is probably not right for this Bill but it highlights an area which needs significant debate, legislation and much work in various Departments.