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Same-sex adoption in NI has moved closer today after a Supreme Court ruling

The UK Supreme Court rejected an application that was being sought by Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Edwin Poots.

THE UK’S SUPREME Court has rejected an application to appeal a ruling paving the way for adoption by same-sex couples in Northern Ireland.

The application was being sought by Stormont’s health minister Edwin Poots following an appeals court decision in June which had upheld an earlier decision by Belfast High Court.

In statement this evening the court said that it had refused permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in this matter:

“The Supreme Court issued an order on 22 October 2013 application did not satisfy the criteria of raising an arguable point of law of general public importance,” read the decision.

Current laws in NI mean a single gay or lesbian person can be allowed to adopt children, but couples in civil partnerships are not allowed to do so.

Last October a  Belfast had rejected a 1987 adoption law that discriminated against unmarried and same-sex couple.

Other parts of the United Kingdom already permit gay and unmarried heterosexual couples to adopt children.

Read: Court ruling paves way for NI same sex couples to adopt >

Read: Northern Ireland’s ban on gay and unmarried adoption overturned >

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61 Comments
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    Mute Mick Stafford
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    Oct 24th 2013, 2:18 PM

    Wow, that shade of green is only stunning against the flood water! Hats off to the Interior Designer!

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    Mute Joseph Carslake
    Favourite Joseph Carslake
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    Oct 24th 2013, 5:02 PM

    Why do we keep running down the citizens of Ireland? Would anyone PLEASE tell me?
    We have immigrants we do not want rammed down our throats, who only want the benefits of living here, they have no interest whatever in the Irish people or the Irish culture, so they bring all their prejudices, likes and hates with them, while the Irish are not allowed to have any say in anything to do with them on pain of being racist. Try going to Africa and see Racism at its worst, towards anyone not of native birth.
    We are whinged and whined at about our “intolerance towards every type of pervert known to human kind. It is your right to feel as you want to feel, it is only when you actually attack these pervs that you are committing a crime. Tell me, have any of you ever had the dubious pleasure of the unwanted interest of one of these pervs? Well I have, and I dont like them, I dont want to see them act like couples in the street I dont want the pervs giving my grandchildren unwanted attention. Am I an evil bastard? I am only saying what others fear to say. Take your PC crap and shove it where it belongs.

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    Mute David Connell
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    Oct 24th 2013, 5:10 PM

    That’s some rant; but, what’s it got to do with floods and insurance?

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Oct 24th 2013, 6:45 PM

    Floods really grind his gears.

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    Mute Orela Krawczyk
    Favourite Orela Krawczyk
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    Oct 24th 2013, 9:29 PM

    What the hell has that got to do with Flood insurance you ignoramus

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Oct 24th 2013, 6:38 PM

    the central bank talking about “lack of transparacy” “weak oversight ” and “lack of controls ” in the insurance industry ! remind me again ,who is it that owns most of the big insurance componies in ireland? oh yes the banks!
    POT,KETTLE,BLACK !

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