Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

We have done much for children. We have appointed the first ever Ombudsman for Children. Comprehensive legislation in child welfare has been introduced. We now have the first Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who sits at Cabinet. He has got responsibility for and is working hard in drafting legislation on the register of persons unsafe to work with children, which heretofore was under the Department of Education and Science. Regarding the newspaper article, if any Member — I genuinely believe this and I am not trying to be smart — proposed weakening the law on this defence, he or she would have been rounded upon.

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