Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank her for her report. I have a few brief observations to make and wish to raise a number of questions with her.

The forthcoming referendum is generating little traction. I am concerned about the lack of media attention in terms of having an informed debate in the wider community. We fully support the referendum and have done so all along. We have arranged a number of public meetings in the constituency, as well as neighbouring constituencies, but while people are coming, the crowds are not. Does the Minister have plans to ensure we will have an informed debate? I am aware that information booklets will be sent by post to households, but that will not generate the level of debate required.

While we may disagree with the "No" side, I suppose it is welcome to see someone coming out to make that case. If nothing else, it will ensure the media gives this matter the attention it deserves while complying with the 50-50 rule.

I have highlighted the issue of resources every time I have spoken on the forthcoming referendum. While I welcome the wording that will be used to enshrine children's rights in our Constitution, I will continue to make the point that this amendment will not be enough if it is not accompanied by adequate resources. The referendum alone is not a panacea. It is critically important that we provide adequate resources for child welfare and protection. If we do not do so, we will not have a robust system.

I wish to refer to the Minister's reply to written questions I tabled recently. I do not question her commitment. In the times we are in, however, and as we approach next month's referendum, I would like money to be ring-fenced. Resources are going to be crucial in the implementation of the referendum.

The horrific report on St. Patrick's Institution makes for very sad reading. I compliment the Minister for extending the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children to the institution. She was right to do so. The Government rapporteur on child protection called for this in his last report. It is to be welcomed. I commend the author of the report. Much of what it unearthed would never have been unearthed without the dogged and determined efforts of the author of the report, who called to the institution at unorthodox hours. He must be complimented. In light of the severity of the report, will the Minister support his call to bring forward the May 2014 date?

I welcome the signing of an agreement on intercountry adoptions. The Minister promised to introduce legislation on information and tracing. Ireland is one of the few European countries that does not have such legislation. Where is this important legislation on the Minister's priority listing?

I welcome the establishment of the child and family support agency. I am glad to see it is progressing. Can the Minister give a commitment that the agency will start with a blank canvas? It would be a retrograde step if it were to start with a deficit it had carried over.

Child minders are exempt from the provisions of the Children First legislation. Has the Minister thought further about that?

I would like to speak about the HSE church audit. I welcome the improvements that have been made. They were long overdue. However, some dioceses have been identified as not giving the critically important issue of child protection the sense of urgency it deserves. Can the Minister outline what her officials are doing to ensure those dioceses meet the standards that are required?

I would like to refer to the survey of how young people feel about their bodies. Bullying and mental health issues are of great importance for young people. The cross-party group on mental health organised an informative seminar in the AV room yesterday. Frankly, I was disappointed that Members showed such a lack of interest in it. I know all Members have busy schedules, but the small turnout was disappointing in light of the importance of the topic. We need to examine this matter further, perhaps by inviting some of those who contributed to yesterday's seminar to a future meeting of this committee.

How frequently does Dáil na n-Óg meet? I will conclude on this matter, which I have raised in a written question. I thank the Chairman for his leniency. The Constitutional Convention will consider the possibility of allowing 17 year olds to vote. We are being asked to vote "Yes" in the children's referendum to give children a voice. Despite that, there will be no representative of young people on the Constitutional Convention.