Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At present, as the Senator knows, a married couple and single people can adopt. In the Bill, we are allowing cohabiting couples to adopt. This is different, but the same principles around assessment continue to be in place. There is no change to that.

Many couples who wish to adopt find the suitability tests carried out by Tusla very intrusive, and with justification. Their strengths and weaknesses are assessed and everything involved in an adoption assessment is done because we want to answer the question of what is in the best interests of the child. This is the question that is put. It does not concern the couple's status but their parenting capacity. This is at the centre of the approach in the Bill when examining all of these issues, whether it is guardianship, access, custody or adoption. The test is what is in the best interests of the child. We are broadening the pool of those who are eligible to adopt, but the mechanisms by which the assessment is done and suitability considered remain the same.