The ruling that Health Minister Edwin Poots cannot appeal a High Court decision to allow gay and unmarried couples to adopt has been welcomed by Derry MLA Maeve McLaughlin.
Health Minister Edwin Poots.
The Sinn Fein representative, chairperson of the Stormont Health Committee, said the decision was “sensible and logical” and one that would be “welcomed widely.”
She added: “It is a decision that is against discrimination and for equality.This ruling affects not only people in same sex relationships but also unmarried couples and those in civil partnerships.
“A Minister’s role is to act for all of the people yet here we have another case that has seen Edwin Poots pursuing actions along the lines of his personal beliefs and allowing his prejudices to affect legislative decisions.
“We are concerned that there is now a pattern arising where the Health Minister has wasted public money on cases that are out of step with public opinion and have been challenged successfully in terms of equality.”
Ms McLaughlin said Mr Poots should now come forward and declare how much public money he has spent by bringing not just this appeal but also the Department’s challenge regarding gay men donating blood.
She concluded: “The focus in any adoption has to be the child’s welfare and to deny children a good home on the basis of prejudice is wrong.”
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