Gay adoption laws to be reviewed

Gay and unmarried couples in Northern Ireland will be able to adopt children under proposals to overhaul adoption legislation.

The proposal which was unveiled today, revealed that couples who have gone through a civil partnership as well as unmarried couples, whether of a different sex or the same sex, will be able to adopt.

Health Minister Paul Goggins announced the proposal, which will put children's needs at the heart of the process.

Speaking as he launched the consultation document, 'Adopting the Future,' the Minister said it set out proposals for the changes needed to improve adoption services.

Key elements of the proposals include: new legislation which places the child at the centre of the process; comprehensive standards, guidance and training for agencies to ensure efforts are maximized to achieve the best results for children; introducing the principle that delay in decision-making is likely to prejudice the child's welfare; introducing statutory timescales for certain parts of the adoption process to avoid unnecessary delay at key junctures; legislation requiring courts to draw up timetables in adoption proceedings and give directions to ensure that they are adhered to.

Other Key elements include, Guidance for all those involved in adoption about the appropriateness of contact and the way in which it should be managed and reviewed; At all times, contact between the birth parent(s), siblings and the child will only take place where it is consistent with the child's welfare; Options to find a family for a child through a regional system where it has not been possible to do so locally.

Other changes include a ban on over-50s adopting children under three, apart from exceptional circumstances.

The number of adoptions in Northern Ireland has fallen significantly from a peak in 1970 of 554, to an average of around 150 per year.

Only 79 children were adopted from care at year-end March 2004 and for children adopted during 2003/04 the average duration from care to adoption order was 3 years and 10 months.

Barbara Hutchinson, Deputy Chief Executive of the British Association for Adoption & Fostering, said: "We are delighted that Northern Ireland has launched this important consultation."

She continued by saying that the existing adoption law was made at a time when society was very different and added that children of all ages who may have experienced neglect or abuse, need permanent families.

Ms Hutchinson concluded by saying that a lot of work had gone into the new strategy and that it shared similarities with changes in other parts of the UK, but also contained significant differences.

(EF/SP)