Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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952. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when it is intended to commence Part 11 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. [26924/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Part 11 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 amends the Adoption Act 2010 to provide for the joint adoption of a child by civil partners and cohabiting couples. Part 11 of the 2015 Act requires amendment in order to ensure that the 2010 Act adequately protects the rights of those persons whose consent to an adoption is required and to generally ensure a robust legislative basis for adoption. The Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 repeals Part 11 of that Act. The provisions for providing for the adoption of a child by civil partners and cohabiting couples are being provided for in the Adoption (Amendment Bill 2016 by way of bringing forward the relevant sections (amended as necessary) from Part 11 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 into the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016. This Bill has passed second stage and will be considered by the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in the coming Dail term.