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

I have no issue with the Deputy tabling an amendment on Report Stage, if that is his wish. I ask respectfully that he cost it. The exercise of costing it might colour his view.

I do not wish to be argumentative but this is not a unique opportunity. We have already said we can review this if it is found not to deliver. It is a child safeguarding statement. The Children First guidelines are there to protect children, if people observe them. Even having a child safeguarding statement does not mean it will be observed. It is essential that parents are alert to the fact each service should have one but if it does not, they should report it and then somebody will visit. Otherwise, there has to be an enormous administrative system. We are not talking only about child carers in this Bill. It does not just cover crèches. We are talking about the local basketball and tennis clubs or two or three teachers who come together perhaps to provide piano lessons. At a guesstimate, this covers at least 25,000 organisations and anywhere up to 100,000 different services. The administrative burden and drain on resources to do this would, I believe, be misdirected, when there are serious child care issues to deal with and children at risk.

This involves creating a new culture and empowering parents in a significant way. We are all ashamed of the situations the Deputy alluded to as part of our society and history. They were born out of a lack of transparency and out of secrecy. This is very open. When one walks in to the service, this has to be on the wall in a visible place. The first question every parent should ask is, “Where is your child safeguarding statement?” and if the service does not have one, the parent should say he or she will go elsewhere and in the meantime report the service. It is a really progressive and positive step forward.

We do have the fall-back position that once Tusla is made aware of this, it will be involved immediately and will check out what is happening and why. It will shine a light on the service. If the service cannot even provide a child safeguarding statement, one would have to have serious worries about its operation and the risks involved. Just as making late payments or being out of kilter with other people’s returns, draws the Revenue Commissioners’ attention, so this will highlight the service. To set up an inspection regime to cover up to 100,000 organisations is not, at this point in time, the most sensible use of our resources. The more we empower the public and parents, the safer our country becomes for children.