Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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586. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the Family Relationships and Children Bill, if he will consider including providing legislative basis to recognise the rights of grandparents regarding access, particularly in cases of children in the care of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36764/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the law as it stands, a relative of a child may apply for access to the child. The relevant provision is section 11B of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as as inserted by the Children Act 1997. There are existing recommendations for simplification of this provision in the Law Reform Commission's report on Legal Aspects of FamilyRelationships, because it currently involves a two stage process in which the person seeking access must first obtain the leave of the court to make the application for access. I am considering this recommendation in developing the Family Relationships and Children Bill.