The Supreme Court will rule later on an important appeal by the State aimed at overturning a finding that the word “child” in the International Protection Act can extend beyond biological and adopted children for family reunification purposes. The appeal is over a High Court finding in the case of an African man, Mr X, who came here in 2006. On Thursday, a five-judge Supreme Court, comprising the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, and his four female colleagues, who sat together for the first time, reserved judgment on the appeal by the Minister for Justice and State over the High Court finding. Biological parentsThe “normal meaning” of “child” is the child of biological parents and there was nothing in section 56.9 that entitled the High Court to find otherwise, he said. The intent and purpose of family reunification as provided for by the Oireachtas was to protect the family unit that in fact existed in the man’s home state.

Source: The Irish Times January 16, 2020 23:03 UTC