Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is essential to put the child front and centre in this legislation. That is why I put down that amendment. On setting the bar, it is set really high when it comes to fostering, yet there are failures within that system.Intending foster parents will go through between six and 12 months before being allowed to have a child in their care. I have had many children over the years who came to my house after being mistreated by foster parents they were in care with. That is why I tabled the amendment. It was very specific for child sex offenders. If someone wants to become a foster parent, not only does the intending foster parent have to get Garda clearance but everybody else in the home does. The amendment seeks to ensure the regulatory body conducts due diligence in respect of intending parents. It is about setting the bar high, and I expect it to be set very high. That does not matter. Having seen what I have seen over the years, I do not believe everyone has a right to be a parent. Children are abused and sexually abused from very young ages.

I have had many children in my care, including one of my children's foster son who is gay. The referendum was the first time he voted. He had been with me for four or five years at that stage. He talked about the referendum and voted against at the time. I could not believe he was voting against it. When I asked him why he said he would not have liked to have been in foster care with two gay men. When I asked him why not he said he would never have experienced what mother love felt like. His words to me were "I would never have got to experience what mother love felt like.”