LGBT Ireland today released a video asking members of the Joint Oireachtas Select Committee on Social Protection to meet the children affected by the lack of movement on proposed changes to the Children and Families Relationship Act.

Representatives from the group appeared before the Oireachtas yesterday to call for the increased legal recognition of families headed by same-sex parents.

Following that meeting, the group sent an explanatory video to members of the Joint Oireachtas Select Committee on Social Protection urging members of the Select Committee to support the speedy process of the Civil Registration Bill, which replaces Part 9 of the Children & Family Relationship Act 2015.

Campaigners have long stressed the need for changes to the Children and Families Relationship Act. As it stands currently, the bill provides no legal recognition to LGBT+ families.

The ‘Meet The Children’ video begins with Aoife, who was born in 2014. At the time it was not possible to register both of Aoife’s parents on her birth certificate because she has two mothers. The video goes on to say the proposed changes to the Act would have remedied this, but families have now been waiting over four years.

The video concludes: “These children, and hundreds more, do not have a right to both of the parents who care for them. This Government can realise their rights, by supporting legislation that recognises LGBTQ families.”

Waiting to address the Joint Health Committee on the AHR Bill to outline our proposals for reform to ensure that children being raised by same-sex parents, can establish a legal relationship to their parents. For more info on our submission go to https://t.co/rPrjUJ5Uv6

— LGBT Ireland (@LGBT_ie) February 27, 2019

At the meeting yesterday, Paula Fagan, the chief executive of LGBT Ireland said: “Several families we spoke to have children with serious health conditions that require ongoing medical attention, for these parents the stress caused by the lack of legal rights puts a huge additional strain on them.

“This is particularly so when medical consent is required, and when obtaining legal documents such as passports, but it also arises in everyday situations, like for example providing consent for school trips.”

Fagan continued: “While we acknowledge this is a complex piece of legislation and support the thorough consideration of all issues involved, we ask that you progress your deliberations urgently.”