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

The focus again is on the number, but the legislation refers to a person nonetheless. When one goes on to Schedule 2 - this is my last point and I believe it merits further consideration - "mandated persons" are mentioned: "The following classes of persons are specified as mandated persons for the purposes of this Act". We have an extensive list, which goes onto page 21, but it does not mention childminders anywhere. I accept the difficulties involved, but that is not necessarily a good reason not to have addressed this area. They are not all the same in terms of what we understand to be childminders in our respective wider familial circumstances and those in the community and beyond.

I will not labour the point. I reserve the right to have my colleague table amendments, but I invite the Minister, as all the amendments are from him rather than from any of the Opposition representatives, to take another look at this and see whether this area can be included.