Mr. John Lohan:

Like Mr. Hanevy, I will shorten what I have to say in light of the limited time available. I think the committee would be best served hearing from Dr. Muldoon from the Office of the Ombudsman for Children rather than hearing from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

My Department’s interest in the legislative proposals arises from our responsibility for the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. While the committee will be aware that the Ombudsman for Children is independent in its function, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children is a public body that comes under the aegis of the Department and is funded through the Department's Vote. The Minister also has responsibility for the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002, and would therefore be interested in any legislative proposal that may seek to alter the role or remit of the Ombudsman for Children, even if the policy responsibility for that legislation rests with another Minister, as is the case here.

At a broader level our Department would be quite supportive of what is being proposed in the Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill, particularly the principle of participation of children in decision making. This is a core principle not only in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child but in our national policy framework for children and young people, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.

We would welcome that development.