Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will ensure that is in the Children First Bill. That recommendation came from the committee and I am pleased to accept it.

In relation to the referendum, Senator van Turnhout said that people were still raising concerns regarding vaccinations. The referendum has nothing whatsoever do with vaccinations. There is a 94% vaccination compliance rate here. Senator Crown would be more of an expert on this but the figures I saw indicate a very high level of vaccination uptake for Irish children. There are no plans by the Government to introduce legislation to force vaccinations. The referendum does not deal with this issue and there is no question about that. There is no precedent in our courts of interfering in such a micro way in family decisions. The referendum is about cases where there is risk to the safety and welfare of the child, where it has been prejudicially affected, and the response must be proportionate. Any interference in relation to vaccinations would not be acceptable or proportionate and would not meet the criteria in the referendum wording. The referendum is not related in any way to child benefit either. I will follow up on the points made by Senator Burke outside of committee.