James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are in negotiation with suitable individuals. We want to get the best of the people who are very experienced in the area and beyond reproach. We have spoken to a number of people who are of the highest calibre and, if we can land them, we will be very pleased.

The Deputy also referred to the 130 social workers recruited. Another 193 are at various stages of recruitment. The overall number is 1,300 and there is a continual turnover.

We have the funding to increase the numbers and that is our intention. We will keep recruiting until we get to the number that we need but within the funding we have been given. We were given additional funding to achieve same.

The tragic case of Hassan Khan was mentioned. I do not want to address any particulars of that sad case. I do not want to say anything that could be construed or might make what is an appallingly sad situation worse for the family. I can say that it is my understanding that the family had an allocated social worker. As Members will be aware, the case has been referred to the independent child death review group. The group will report in due course. The case will be a priority for the group so that information will be available to us all.

Senator van Turnhout asked a number of questions that I shall try to answer. She asked why there was a delay with the Children First legislation. I have a note on the matter. When the Bill was initiated the House brought forward a number of matters for consideration which have been the subject of a detailed review by my officials. I hope to bring forward a small number of amendments arising out of same which are currently being finalised. I hope that we will be able to move to Committee Stage very shortly because this is a very important Bill.

Officials are also working on the Children's First guidance to reflect both the content of the Children First Bill along with the other child protection legislation. For example, the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. This matter has been raised by Deputies and I am committed to trying to advance it in tandem with the Bill. I am not throwing the issue back at all but acknowledge the work done by this committee. Some of the issues raised are very complex and we want to deal with them before we move forward but it is a priority for us.

The Senator asked about how the committee will interact with the Child Family Agency. The issue has been discussed a number of times within the Department. We know that the HSE comes here and directly engages with the committee. It is clear that the committee would like to interact with the agency. The agency has only been set up so we need to allow it settle and get its feed under the table. We also need to decide whether the agency should come here separately or come along with the Department and be here today as was often done with my other ministry. The matter is still under discussion and I have heard the concerns expressed by members. I want people to have access to the broadest amount of information. Transparency serves us all very well. Figures have been quoted and I think Deputy Ó Caoláin mentioned that around 9,000 children still await the allocation of a dedicated social worker with a third of whom high priority. I welcome that such information is in the public domain. While I do not welcome the scenario, if the information is out there then at least we can try to deal with it in an open and transparent way, and not pretend things are other than what they are.

The Senator asked about the delay in adoption legislation and what is happening with Senator Power's Bill. My Department is examining it at the moment. I got the Bill direct from the Senator and we also got a soft copy. We are looking at the legislation but it is a very complicated area. We have had the legal opinion of the Attorney General who is still studying it and has certain concerns. Without going into specifics at this juncture, I do not believe in opposing a Bill just for the sake of it but how should we deal with it if it is flawed? My Bill is nearly ready and it must take it into consideration. We will continue to look at the legislation and I will revert to both Senator van Turnhout and Senator Power because I know they will support the legislation. Without question we are all trying to achieve the same thing.