In reference to Ms Miriam Cassar’s letter regarding the case of the infant found in Cospicua (TMID, April 12), it might be appropriate to bring to your readers’ attention that Ms Cassar’s sweeping statement that in such a case, most European countries would find an adoptive family for the child is unfounded.

In Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Austria, Estonia, Finland, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom among others, the consent of the natural parents is one of the main pre-requisites for adoption. Malta is no exception and consent of the natural parents is only dispensed with for very valid reasons. It is recommended that the experts are left to work with the mother and in the best interests of the child to achieve the best solution in the circumstances. It is not up to the person in the street to judge, in this case, the natural mother and say that her child should immediately and automatically be given up for adoption.

Ms Cassar may also wish to note that, while adoption is without a doubt a valid and plausible choice for some children, one should not shoot down fostering as an alternative option, with the scope being that of re-integrating children into their original family set-up, according to their best interest.

With regard to Ms Cassar’s claim that our laws favour irresponsible adults, it is important to point out that Malta’s Civil Code states in no uncertain terms that should a parent not assume the obligations to “look after, maintain, instruct and educate the children” s/he may be deprived of parental authority over the child. Furthermore, with regard to adoption, the court always has the prerogative to dispense with the consent of the natural parents, if the circumstances so warrant. In fact, the Maltese court has dispensed with the consent of the natural parents on a number of occasions in the past two years when the circumstances so warranted.

On a point of national interest, as has been already stated publicly by Minister Dolores Cristina, amendments to the legislation regulating adoption are under way and currently being finalised. In addition, as reported also in various local media, a Bill on Foster Care was published in the Government Gazzette on Tuesday. This is yet another firm step taken by this government towards the protection of and best care for our children.

On a final note, it is pertinent to point out that Ms Cassar frequently puts pen to paper on issues concerning children without having the necessary legal background where Maltese legislation is concerned.

This results in a number of inaccuracies and misinformation which is then passed on to the readers of your newspaper.

In fact, much of the above information was already made clear in your paper in an article by Dr Elaine Burmingham which appeared in print on 24 February 2007, once again to correct inaccuracies attributed to Ms Cassar in an interview carried in the paper.

Marija Schranz

Communications Coordinator

Ministry for the Family

and Social Solidarity