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

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, to delete line 28, and in page 6, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:“ “harm” means, in relation to a child—

(a) assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare, or

(b) sexual abuse of the child,

whether caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances, or otherwise;”.

It is proposed to amend the definition of "harm" in section 2 to introduce the threshold of seriously affecting the health, development or welfare of the child in respect of assault. The purpose of this amendment is to address a situation whereby, without a stated threshold, all forms of assault will be required to be reported under the legislation.

This could potentially include all forms of minor physical chastisement, such as an incident in which a child is pushed on a single occasion, or all incidents where there is a threat of assault.