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Court rules Poots cannot appeal gay adoption decision Court rules Poots cannot appeal gay adoption decision
(35 minutes later)
The health minister has been told by the Supreme Court that he cannot appeal the high court's decision to allow gay and unmarried couples to adopt. The health minister cannot appeal the high court's decision to allow gay and unmarried couples in Northern Ireland to adopt.
The Supreme Court said the Department of Health's argument for appeal did not meet the criteria.The Supreme Court said the Department of Health's argument for appeal did not meet the criteria.
In June, the Court of Appeal ruled that legislation that prevents civil partners adopting was unlawful - but Edwin Poots appealed that decision In June, the Court of Appeal ruled that legislation that prevents civil partners adopting was unlawful - but Edwin Poots appealed that decision.
The Supreme Court said there were no grounds for an appeal and dismissed it.The Supreme Court said there were no grounds for an appeal and dismissed it.
Mr Poots tried to challenge an appeal court's decision that paved the way for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman for the UK's top court said: "The Supreme Court of the UK has refused permission to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision in this matter."
At present a single gay or lesbian person can adopt in Northern Ireland but a couple in a civil partnership cannot.
Mr Poots said: "It is with disappointment that I note that the request for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court has been refused.
"I am currently carefully considering the implications for the Adoption and Children Bill, which is currently being drafted and which I intend to introduce in the assembly next year."
'Unjustifiably discriminatory'
A challenge to the legislation was mounted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which was backed by an unidentified lesbian woman who wants to enter into a civil partnership and be able to adopt her partner's biological child.
Unmarried couples in Great Britain can apply jointly to be considered for adoption irrespective of sexual orientation. But anyone unmarried in Northern Ireland is only eligible for consideration as an individual.
Those in civil partnerships cannot apply individually or as a couple.
The commission challenged the law on the grounds that certain provisions were unjustifiably discriminatory to those in homosexual relationships, in contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Court of Appeal in Belfast ruled in the commission's favour and against Mr Poots' department in June.
The department then applied for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court on a point of law.
The Supreme Court spokesman added: "The Supreme Court issued an order on 22 October 2013 stating that the application did not satisfy the criteria of raising an arguable point of law of general public importance."
The refusal of the Supreme Court in London to grant the further appeal on adoption law was welcomed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
'Successive legal failures'
Chief Commissioner, Professor Michael O'Flaherty said: "The commission brought this case to ensure that the best interests of children in Northern Ireland would be protected.
"Unmarried couples, those in same sex relationships and civil partnerships are eligible to be considered to be adoptive parents.
"All of the judgements and today's rejection by the Supreme Court to hear a further appeal confirmed that the law in Northern Ireland was out of step with the United Kingdom's human rights obligations."
Alliance Party MLA Kieran McCarthy said: "Edwin Poots' position as health minister has been seriously undermined by successive legal failures over adoption by civil partners and the ban on gay men donating blood.
"He has continued to waste public money on his own personal campaigns despite several failures in the courts.
"The minister must do what is right and urgently allow civil partners the opportunity to apply to adopt. He must accept this decision and cease any further legal action.
"There are too many children in our care system for us to be deciding who has the right to apply to adopt a child. It should be about whether a couple can provide a loving and safe home for a child."