Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Committee Stage

5:40 pm

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

I move amendment No. 4:


In page 12, subsection (1)(c), line 12, to delete "families" and substitute the following:"all families and the role of parents or guardians therein as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above".
What is sought is a change to section 8(1)(c) which reads that a function of the agency will be to "support and encourage the effective functioning of families". We seek to replace the reference to the word "families" such that the section would read "all families and the role of parents or guardians therein as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above". Paragraph (b) has not been amended as we would have wished, but we are no less enthusiastic in our effort to see this change effected.

The reference to all families is to give recognition to the reality of all family units which constitute society today. The traditional notion of family is as might be suggested by the current wording. It is important to refer to "all families" because quite clearly there are a number of possible family arrangements which do and will apply and it is very important that they are acknowledged and that there is a sense of inclusivity and recognition. The reference to the role of parents or guardians in the family "as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above" is a reference to supporting and promoting, as is now the case, the continued development, welfare and protection of children. This reaffirms what is stated in paragraph (b) and clearly adds that the parents and guardians of the children concerned are part of addressing these critical areas of need in a child's developmental years, that is, development, welfare and protection. I commend the amendment and look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say.

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