A Derry MLA has called on Health Minister Edwin Poots to stop wasting public money by appealing the decision to allow civil partnerships and same sex couples to adopt.
MLA Maeve McLaughlin
Sinn Fein’s Maeve McLaughlin, a member of the Assembly’s Health Committee said she welcomed the ruling by the Court of Appeal which gives the go-ahead for unmarried couples, those in civil partnerships and same sex couples to adopt.
Ms McLaughlin said it was a “welcome decision for equality and against discrimination” called on Health Minister Edwin Poots to let the public know how much public money he has “wasted” by bringing the appeal.
Ms McLaughlin added: “This current appeal to the Supreme Court is foolish in the extreme and wastes even more public money.
“The Health Minister has brought his own personal prejudices to this issue in the same way that these prejudices clouded his judgement regarding gay people donating blood. This not only affects people in same sex relationships but also unmarried couples and those in civil partnerships.”
Ms McLaughlin concluded: “The focus in any adoption has to be the child’s welfare and to deny children a good home on the basis of prejudices is wrong.”
