Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reasons she will not introduce legislation to allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt children. [7046/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Act already provides that an individual habitually resident in the State, or a couple married to each other, each of whom is habitually resident in the State, may apply to the Health Service Executive for an assessment of eligibility and suitability to adopt. It is currently not possible for two unmarried persons to jointly adopt a child in Ireland.

At present there are no legislative proposals in relation to this matter.