Gay couples will not have a greater right to adopt than straight couples or single people, according to the Minister for Justice.

Frances Fitzgerald has this evening been introducing the Children & Family Relationships Bill to the Dáil and has said the new bill will extend adoption rights to same-sex couples - with the government hoping the bill will be law before the referendum on same-sex marriage.

Minister Fitzgerald says the bill will treat everyone equally - with nobody getting an unfair advantage.

“If the married couple is considered to be the most suitable couple to adopt the child that couple will be the one selected, in other cases the couple chosen will be a civil partnered couple or a co-habiting couple,” she said.

“However, many of the children most likely to be adopted will involve in-family adoptions, in which the child’s parent and the parent’s partner jointly adopt the child,” she added.

Ms Fitzgerald said the Bill will ensure a child is given the best family for their needs - irrespective of their parents' gender.

“My view and the view underpinning this bill is that adoption is a child welfare mechanism. It is not about discriminating in favour of particular family types,” she said.

“It is not about the marital status of the adopters, it is about giving the child the chance to have a family, it is about matching the child to a family that best safeguards the child’s welfare,” she added.

Debate on the landmark bill is beginning in the Dáil this evening.