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

Absolutely. I thank the Deputy for clarifying the issue. Section 10(3) reads:

A child safeguarding statement shall include a written assessment of the risk and, in that regard, specify the procedures that are in place—

(a) to manage any risk identified,

(b) in respect of any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation (howsoever described) in respect of any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child availing of the relevant service,

(c) for the selection or recruitment of any person as a member of staff of the provider with regard to that person’s suitability to work with children,

(d) for the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training, to members of staff of the provider in relation to the identification of the occurrence of harm,

(e) for reporting to the Agency by the provider or a member of staff of the provider (whether a mandated person or otherwise) in accordance with this Act and

(f) for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons.

I do not want to labour the point. We have had a good discussion on the matter. I hope I have made it clear that it is not the issue of the childminder being excluded but the issue of an individual who provides an individual service as opposed to someone who is an employer and has one, or more than one, employee.