Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When one talks about hierarchy, I am not in the least trying to differentiate between families. Every family, particularly in the current economic climate, regardless of diversity, is finding it extremely difficult. What I will say is that those children who find themselves up for adoption deserve the best placement. The criteria of the adoption authority apply across the board, regardless of the applicant involved or his or her family circumstances. In effect, all I am saying in my amendment - the Minister is being a little disingenuous in trying to say it would apply different criteria - is that, subject to meeting all of the criteria laid down, in which I also take into account the mother's wishes, and all other things being equal, preference should be given to providing for placement with a married couple. I consider this to be in the best interests of the child because it provides for placement of the child with a mother and a father.

On role models, gender matters. There are Senators who argue that it makes no difference what gender someone is. Gender matters significantly when children are growing up. On growing up in a household in which there is diversity, it is contradictory for commentators to put forward the argument that diversity is good, but when it comes to children in a family, we will eradicate diversity. That is not a logical argument to make. That is why I will be pressing the amendment.