Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth

General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I have questions for TIGALA. The examples of child A and child B in Ms Quinn's submission was a Eureka moment for me. Until now, I was struggling to understand how this legislation was going to work. There is a juxtaposition between the experience of a child under a care order versus a child under a voluntary agreement. In practical terms, and in practical, simple language for those watching these proceedings, what would our guests do for the child or what should the child who is under a voluntary agreement have? How would TIGALA compel the statutory agencies, which are presumably going to be working together under this legislation, to work for such a child? Our guests will correct me if I am wrong, but if a child is under a voluntary agreement, the parents or guardians, or whoever has applied, have done so voluntarily. It is not the subject of court proceedings. How would TIGALA, for want of a better word, impose advocacy around the child in those circumstances? Does my question make sense? If it does not, I will clarify it.