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

I thank the committee for its questions and its courtesy and I look forward to working with it for the remainder of the Administration. We are all engaged in the care of children and in ensuring they get the best possible outcome by being allowed to reach their full potential. For some groups of children that requires serious intervention on behalf of the State and for all children it requires the support of the State. We are all focused on the one outcome here and while we might differ occasionally on certain points, I believe that good wishes and good intentions in relation to children are universal. One thing that has struck me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is the enormous amount of volunteerism right across this sector. Up to 60,000 people volunteer in youth clubs and that area, and hundreds of thousands are involved in sport in various organisations. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to them and to wish them well in their work.