![\"ireland51016\"](\"https:\/\/proudparenting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/ireland51016.jpg\")
\nIreland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs updated the country’s adoption law to give same-sex couples the right to adopt. The law provides for joint parenting of lesbian and gay couples.<\/p>\n
\nIreland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs updated the country’s adoption law to give same-sex couples the right to adopt. The law provides for joint parenting of lesbian and gay couples.<\/p>\n
Previously, same-sex couples could adopt under the \u2018sole applicant\u2019 rule, meaning the child was only legally adopted by one partner. The new Bill extends adoption rights to same-sex couples and cohabiting partners.<\/p>\n
The Bill follows Ireland\u2019s legalization of gay marriage by popular vote last year, when 62% of the Republic\u2019s electorate voted in favor of same-sex marriage, against the wishes of the Catholic Church. The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, called the result of the Irish referendum a \u2018defeat for humanity\u2019.<\/p>\n
The adoption Bill was first approved by the Irish government last year. At the time, Ireland\u2019s Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said: \u2018This reform of family law is a major step forward. It\u2019s a substantial and detailed response to the reality of family life in Ireland today.\u2019<\/p>\n