Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response to amendment No. 49. However, she seems to say that it is not necessary to require that there be sufficient "gravity", as distinct from sufficiency of "reason", to persuade the Minister to withhold the information. We should remember what is involved here, the denial of the knowledge of who he or she is to a child. The Minister seems to say that this is reasonable because there is some mechanism of appeal, but the mere fact of a mechanism of appeal is insufficient, because when the matter falls to be considered, the court will look at the threshold of sufficiency and will decide, presumably by an objective test, whether there were sufficient reasons. I believe there should be an element of gravity about any reasons that would cause a person to be deprived of information. It is irrelevant to talk about the possibility of an appeal. The question is according to what criteria any appellate will decide or determine whether the Minister had a well-founded reason to withhold the information. I will, therefore, press the amendment.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.