Children and Family Relationships Act 2015

Children and Family Relationships Act 2015
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Long title Long Title An Act to provide for certain matters relating to donor-assisted human reproduction and the parentage of children born as a result of donor-assisted human reproduction procedures; to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a register to be known as the National Donor-Conceived Person Register; to amend and extend the law relating to the guardianship and custody of, and access to, children and for those purposes to amend the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 ; to extend the category of persons who may be liable for the maintenance of children and for that purpose to amend the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976, and for that and other purposes to amend the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 ; to provide for the use in certain circumstances of DNA testing to determine parentage and for that and other purposes to amend the Status of Children Act 1987 ; to amend the Family Law Act 1995 ; to amend the category of persons who may adopt children and for that and other purposes to amend the Adoption Act 2010 ; to make consequential amendments to the Succession Act 1965 , the Civil Registration Act 2004 and other enactments; and to provide for related matters.
Citation	Children and Family Relationships Act 2015
Enacted by	Dáil Éireann
Enacted	12 March 2015
Enacted by	Seanad Éireann
Enacted	30 March 2015
Signed by	President Michael D. Higgins
Signed	6 April 2015
Commenced	1 July 2015 (Part 10) 18 January 2016 (Parts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13) 4 May 2020 (Parts 2 and 3)
First chamber: Dáil Éireann
Introduced by	Frances Fitzgerald
Amended by
Acts Amended Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 Succession Act 1965 Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 Status of Children Act 1987 Family Law Act 1995 Civil Registration Act 2004 Passports Act 2008 Adoption Act 2010 Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 Redundancy Payments Act 1967 Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 Child Care Act 1991 Protection Act 1994 Adoptive Leave Act 1995 Parental Leave Act 1998 Children (Hague Convention) Act 2000 Support Act 2011
Status: Current legislation

The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Act No. 9 of 2015, bill no. 14 of 2015) amended family law in Ireland to extend parental rights and responsibilities to non-traditional families. It simplifies adoption rights for the spouse or civil partner of a biological parent, and for a long-term domestic partner. It also addresses donor-assisted reproduction (sperm donation and egg donation).

Legislature

Senator Jim Walsh resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party over its support for the bill.

Commencement

• 1 July 2015: The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Part 10) (Commencement) Order 2015 commenced; specifying that Part 10 of the Act in its entirety commences.
• 18 January 2016: The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 commenced; specifying provisions of Parts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 of the Act.
• 4 May 2020: Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Parts 2 and 3) (Commencement) Order 2019 commenced; Parts 2 and 3.
• 4 May 2020: Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2019 commenced; Parts 4, 6, 7 and 12, insofar as it is not already in operation, and section 176.

References

Sources

• "Children and Family Relationships Act 2015". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
• Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 (links to debates and amendments) Oireachtas