Latest news with #RanaevonMeding
The Journal
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Many LGBT parents still 'legal strangers' to their children, ten years on from marriage equality vote
LGBTQ+ COUPLES ARE calling for full parental rights, as some mothers and fathers are still 'legal strangers' to their children ten years on from the marriage equality referendum. Equality for Children, a representative group for LGBTQ+ parents, are to meet with the health minister next week after what they say has been a decade of 'broken promises'. Many LGBT people are not legally the parent of their child, even if they're biologically related. In the case of women, it is often only the person who carries the baby that can be a legal parent, depending on how and where the child was conceived. Equality for Children CEO Ranae von Meding had her first child in 2016, the year after Ireland voted in a referendum to allow same-sex couples to get married. She carried the child, but her wife is the biological mother. 'We assumed that because we had passed Marriage Equality only a few months before that, our family would be treated like any other married family,' she said. We looked into it further and realised actually Marriage Equality had done nothing for children of LGBTQ+ couples in Ireland. Von Meding has had to register as a single parent, despite living with and being married to her children's biological mother. 'I just couldn't understand the lack of progress, and the broken promises of what the people of Ireland thought they voted for, which was equality.' While the other parent in a same-sex couple can apply for guardianship, their child must live with them for at least two years. Von Meding's third child is still under two years old, so her wife and his biological mother can't be a guardian. I'm his only legal parent, and if I walked out today and, say, got hit by a car, he would be orphaned. Advertisement 'He does not have a legal connection or legal relationship with his other parent, and there is no avenue to get him one at present.' He was also conceived in a fertility clinic outside of Ireland, which the Children and Families Relationships Act does not cover. It only covers female LGBT couples who used an Irish fertility clinic. Equality for Children says that unequal rights for parents causes unneccesary complications for children, such as with medical treatment, school enrollments, foreign travel, tax and inheritance rights. The new Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, which has been enacted but has yet to be commenced, would see equal rights extended to same sex couples who had children through non-clinical insemination, but only if they were born prior to 2020. It will not cover anyone who has used fertility clinics outside of Ireland, anyone whose children were born abroad, or anyone who was not a resident of Ireland when a surrogacy arrangement took place. These are among the issues the group plans to raise with Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill during the meeting next Thursday. They're also calling for any future legislation to have paramountcy principal, meaning that if someone does not meet all the criteria necessary to have parental rights, a judge has discretion to make a decision on their case. 'It would mean that it's not so black and white because, as we all know, family formation is not black and white. At the end of the day, it's all about what's in the child's best interest,' said von Meding. 'Without the paramountcy principle, we know for a fact that there will be children who slip between the cracks and fall outside of the parameters of whatever legislation is brought through.' Von Meding is hopeful that Minister Carroll MacNeill will be receptive to their recommendations, despite the delay. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Same-sex couples feel they are 'bottom of the agenda' for health minister
The health minister has insisted she is committed to meeting same-sex parents to address issues around surrogacy, despite having been accused of "disregarding" the LGBT+ community. A number of pieces of legislation have been introduced — including last year's Assisted Human Reproduction Act and the 2015 Children and Family Relationships Act — but same-sex couples have, over the years, campaigned for changes to those laws as many circumstances are not covered, leading to only one parent being legally recognised. Amending legislation to the former is listed in the Government's summer legislative programme as a priority, specifically attempting to "address issues related to parentage and citizenship arising from the use of fertility clinics abroad by Irish residents and Irish citizens living abroad". Campaign groups have been requesting a meeting with Jennifer Carroll MacNeill since her appointment in January, but said they were disappointed this week that while they have not yet received a date, a meeting with a group which represents heterosexual couples will meet the minister this week. Equality of Children CEO Ranae von Meding told the Irish Examiner the current laws mean that while she and her wife are legally recognised as parents to her two daughters, only she is listed as a parent to their son because of where the fertility clinic they used for his birth was based. She said it is imperative that the minister hear from those most affected by the laws. "We've been doing all the things we're supposed to do — we've gone through the official channels, we're ready and willing to cooperate. Three well-thought-of organisations are seeking a meeting with a minister on something that disproportionately affects LGBT+ people. But we haven't received any acknowledgement so it feels like we're at the bottom of the agenda. "We found out last week that she was replying to people and saying that she was meeting a group which only deals with heterosexual couples. To hear that they are having a meeting and that there has only been allusions to meeting us without responding to our completely disingenuous." Irish Gay Dads vice president Mark O'Looney, says he feels the LGBT+ community has been "disregarded". Mr O'Looney and his husband live in America, where both are recognised as parents, but the current laws mean that if they were to return to Ireland, one would lose their legal protections as parent as their daughters would need to undergo a genetic test, a test not required of straight couples. "The minister has totally disregarded the queer community in this. I know that they are telling us there's a meeting coming, but unless it's on the diary, I won't believe it. "It's been a year since the AHR bill was enacted and there's no amending legislation or plan in place and we've had zero interaction with this minister. They need to engage with us now or we risk not having a voice in legislation that's supposed to pass this summer. "If you're not hearing our voices, how can we tell you about what's happening?" A spokesperson for Ms Carroll MacNeill said she will meet with the groups in the coming weeks. "The Minister is keen to meet with as many stakeholders as possible on policy matters pertaining to her department," they said. "Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill is well advanced – it is on the priority list for publication during the summer legislative term.'
