Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

This Bill has been delayed to allow us give effect to the recommendations of the joint working group on the protection of children. The legislation arises out of the North-South Ministerial Council. Work thus far on the Bill has concentrated on developing procedures for the vetting of convictions through the vetting unit. The development of a register gives rise to a range of policy and practical implementation issues.

This is a North-South issue and it is not possible to give a date for the Bill's publication at this stage. If, as stated earlier, we made progress, we could deal with this issue.

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