Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Children First Bill 2014 was finally published on Monday. The guidelines were published as long ago as 1999 and it has taken until now for the legislation to present. It was the 2009 Ryan report which recommended the thrust of the proposals we now have. Considerable concern has been expressed by front-line providers in regard to the needs and care of children in so far as enforceability is concerned. When will the Children First Bill 2014 be brought before the House and is there a specific timeframe for its enactment?

The proposal for a health (general practitioner) medical service Bill to provide for a free GP service to children aged under six is one we supported on the basis that it would be rolled out universally within a very short timeframe. The concerns of GPs in regard to this legislation represent a considerable crisis. Members of all parties in the House attended an engagement with more than 400 GPs last Wednesday in Dublin to discuss the issue. Taking on board their concerns and the absence of negotiation with the IMO and other GP representative bodies, when will that Bill present before the House?

See this speech in context