Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I welcome amendment No. 16 and echo the comments of Deputy McGrath about political accountability. We all remember when the last Minister - I mean no disrespect to the individual - was reduced to going on national television to coax the HSE to give him documents that he did not have the legal powers to demand. Once the Department of Children is established, it is important for parents to see that it has teeth and can demand the documents it requires.

To pick up on the points made by Deputies Kelleher and McGrath, while the Government cannot address today in the House the issue of what happens after the abolition of the HSE, it is a cause for concern on all sides. People want to know where child protection will fit in the overall context of the restructuring of our health service. However, that is a discussion for another day. Amendment No. 16 is strong and progressive and sends out a message that this is a new Department with teeth. I commend the amendment.

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