Out-of-date adoption laws in Northern Ireland set to change

NI Health Minister Robin Swann, EJ Havlin, Director of Adoption UK, and Kathy Brownlee with her adopted son, Mack, on the steps of Parliament Buildings at Stormont on Tuesday

A move to overhaul Northern Ireland's out-of-date adoption laws has passed its final hurdle at Stormont.

Health Minister Robin Swann said it was among the most important bills brought to the assembly. The review of the law was 16 years in the making, he added.

There are more than 700 adoptive families here, but the laws were last updated in the 1980s.

On average, it takes more than three years for a child to be adopted from care in Northern Ireland.

But it can vary greatly depending on a child's individual circumstance.

In other legislative developments on Tuesday:

• A new law aiming to protect tenants' rights was backed by the assembly

• MLAs backed a bill that aims to combat violence and abuse including the offence of upskirting and cyberflashing

Life-changing bill?

The new adoption law allows courts to impose a timescale for adoption, and aims to make sure post-adoption assessments consider a child's needs, as well as give adopters more support through social services.

The bill will:

• Reform Northern Ireland's legal framework for adoption

• Introduce a legal duty so adopters can access more support through social services

• Ensure post-adoption assessments to consider a child's needs

• Enable courts to impose timescales for adoption proceedings

In the year to March 2020, 111 children were adopted from care in Northern Ireland.

As assembly members passed the final stage of the bill on Tuesday, Mr Swann said it would "change lives".

"It will mean that adoptive families can enjoy support, and strengthen and widen support for families in need," he added.

"Sixteen years after this process started, I'm delighted to say I commend this bill to the house."

• 'We were left to our own devices after adopting'

Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew, chair of the health committee, said the bill was "overdue" and one of the "most rewarding" pieces of legislation he had ever worked on.

For the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Colin McGrath said the passing of the bill showed what politicians could do when they worked together.

Watching Stormont at work lately has been like waiting on a bus - you wait ages for one then loads arrive at once.

Four bills crossed the finish line in the assembly today and will now become law - but why?

There is a rush to get outstanding legislation completed before the assembly wraps up for the election in just under two weeks' time.

Extra sittings will happen next week - rumours of a Saturday sitting have even been whispered.

27 bills that looked in doubt last month when the executive collapsed - on a range of issues affecting the lives of many people - should make it in time.

A reminder of how fast Stormont can move when it has to.

He said it showed the assembly could "deliver change".

The Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) Pam Cameron also welcomed the bill becoming law and said it was a "momentous day".

She praised the work of all those who had helped to push the bill through its legislative process.

There were warm words from Alliance's Paula Bradshaw. who said the passing of the bill was an "exciting day" and said the changes filled her "heart with joy".

The bill was stalled after public consultation processes and the previous collapse of the Stormont institutions.

The Department of Health said the bill is expected to become law in the coming months, following which regulations would be developed and guidance put in place.