Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Let us say I work with man who has just come out of prison. Twenty-five years ago, that man committed a violent act and has not done so since. A social worker could make a very strong case if he seeks his children back or has children. It is open to being abused. I am not saying it will happen in every situation. My concern is that when it is open to being abused. A person may have harmed people in the past. They were in prison for armed robbery and they violently attacked somebody but time has passed and they now have a child. All of a sudden, some over-cautious, eager social worker straight out of college working with a family thinks this person has a violent past so this child could likely be assaulted by this person. It is open to abuse. It is shady language for legislation.