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Gay and lesbian adoption rights: Edwin Poots' legal challenge is dismissed Gay and lesbian adoption rights: Edwin Poots' legal challenge is dismissed
(35 minutes later)
The Human Rights Commission has welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling that paves the way for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling that paves the way for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children in Northern Ireland.
Moves to allow gay adoption had been on hold while the court heard an appeal from Stormont Health Minister Edwin Poots. At present a single gay or lesbian person can adopt children in NI, but a couple in a civil partnership cannot.
The NIHRC said the ruling would bring NI into line with the rest of the UK.
Moves to allow gay couples to adopt had been on hold while the court heard an appeal from Stormont's health minister.
Edwin Poots had brought the legal challenge after an earlier decision by Belfast High Court, which ruled the current adoption ban on gay and lesbian couples was unlawful.
NIHRC chief commissioner, Professor Michael O'Flaherty, said: "Through this case the commission has protected basic human rights and the best interests of the child.
"For children who are in need of a family in Northern Ireland, the importance of this case in widening the pool of prospective parents cannot be overstated."
Prof O'Flaherty added that the appeal ruing meant "couples who are not married, those in civil partnerships and same sex couples will now be allowed to apply to be considered as adoptive parents".
"The court has agreed with the commission that preventing someone from even being considered to adopt because of their relationship status is a discriminatory practice," he said.
John O'Doherty, director of The Rainbow Project, said the Court of Appeal ruling was a "great day for the rule of law in Northern Ireland".
"There has now been clear direction from the Court of Appeal that the current unlawful ban cannot be allowed to continue.
"No longer must same sex couples have to choose between entering a civil partnership and be coming adoptive parents to a child who needs them," Mr O'Doherty added.