Ms Catriona Doherty:

I thank Deputy McGrath for his question. I would reiterate those points. The best interests principle, as it stands in the preamble, is not strong enough. It has to incorporated into the Bill itself in order for the legislation to be compliant with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC.

The second point, which I mentioned in my address, concerns the support services. Ireland was already criticised on this issue in 2006 and we are going to be examined again this coming January. At present, we are not compliant with article 39 of the UNCRC. Everything else in the Bill will fall down if we cannot give those children support services. It is all well and good giving them information and listening to their voices but if they do not have support services, it can become meaningless in some ways.

I know the Deputy asked for two points, but the last aspect I would highlight is training. Training is of vital importance and has to take place throughout Ireland. The Bill does not just apply to children in Dublin. It applies to children in Donegal, Cork and everywhere. In respect of support services, recital 37 of the directive states that the support services have to be provided within a sufficient geographical region. That means they have to be extended throughout Ireland. We cannot just have support services in one county. I cannot emphasise that enough, along with the training issue.

I work as a barrister and am in court regularly, particularly on the northern circuit. In Letterkenny courthouse, there are no facilities for victims. There are no separate rooms; everybody is in the same place. There are no support services for children who are in court as victims. Support services and training must be extended throughout the island.