A Bill to enhance the parental rights of unmarried fathers is to be launched on Monday by Labour’s equality spokeswoman Kathleen Lynch.
The Guardianship of Children Bill 2010 proposes radical changes to current laws. The legislation provides for an automatic guardianship role for fathers to ensure the child’s rights are vindicated. There are specific exceptions to this right, and the parents or courts will have power to terminate that role in specified circumstances.
The Bill will provide for compulsory registration of the father’s name on a birth certificate. Labour says there is no automatic registration of the father’s name, nor an automatic guardianship role for unmarried fathers.
The Bill is designed to give effect to the rights of non-marital families under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.