Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It looks like we are off to races on this proposed legislation. I thank our guests for their submissions. They are beginning to provide some clarity for us. I perceive that a lot of tidying up remains to be done, which is a normal part of the process. That said, these submissions are certainly very helpful as we begin to get into the weeds of the issues into which we need to get.

I will start with the opening statement made by the OCO. Dr. McAuley stated:

As committee members may have noted, the proposals under head 11 ... the Department and the OCO discussed the Department’s proposal to establish this new statutory duty for the Ombudsman for Children at a meeting at the end of February 2023. In this regard, the Ombudsman for Children has indicated to the Department that while he is open in principle to this proposed new statutory duty, his support for it is contingent on a number of matters being further discussed and agreed.

I may be paraphrasing Dr. McAuley when I say that she also indicated that there are some other issues which are not contained within the submission but which she is happy to discuss. She suggested that she may have some concerns that she wishes to see addressed. I would be grateful for further clarity in that regard in the first instance. Are there any other issues? That is my first question. Will I parcel up all my questions?