Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the sentiment behind Deputy Troy's argument. However, we must focus not just on legal certainty but the fact that what has happened and is happening relates to practice and how we involve children in the assessment process and planning stages of care plans. Unfortunately, this has not happened to date. It must be about practice because that is where the real work will happen with children and families and where their voices will truly be heard. It is about invoking new techniques to ensure we can engage with children in an age-appropriate way, be they toddlers or in secondary school. That is the really ground-breaking element. The legislation as it stands allows us to do that and I hope and am sure the practice will be supported by the Department to ensure that social workers will be able to engage with children and that they will have their voices heard.