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

Restricting section 9(4), relating to the voice of the child, to proceedings under the Child Care Act 1991 or the Adoption Act 2010 is a wasted opportunity to ensure that consultation with children could become standard practice for all professionals within the agency.

As Deputy Ó Caoláin said, this is far too limited. If we want to be true to and reflect Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the State is committed, we need to open this up to a broader remit. Our proposed amendments would do that and would reflect Article 12 better.