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

I did not expect to have to make the remarks I made at the outset of this debate which I will not revisit. I am deeply offended with regard to what I recounted to the Minister and the committee last Tuesday afternoon about remarks external to all of us but made in the context of the agency and its future. The evidence of the past 48 hours suggests very little has changed in terms of the views of the child being taken into account. All of the legislative changes we will make will come to nothing, unless they are applied in the performance, training and oversight of those charged with responsibility in this area. It is a very unfortunate start to the processing of this legislation which I fully support. I hope it will make the critical difference, but I am not convinced the Minister is taking the right approach to the matter of consultation and the deletion of the reference to it. I will not dispute that she has been lobbied, perhaps by wiser and better informed heads than mine in this regard. However, I do not like the idea that people are going to decide what are the views of children without the necessary engagement and consultation. I do not want anybody to make presumptions. I would not have had presumptions made for me in my time or for my children and do not expect them to be made for anybody else but particularly the cohort of young people on whom this legislation will most definitely impact during the course of their lives. We differ on this issue, but I will not put an obstacle in the way of the Minister. I take what she has said in good faith. Is I have the highest regard and respect for her and her position, I will not oppose her amendment. However, I am signalling that I am not comfortable with it.