Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

While listening to the debate and considering its history and the point to which it has brought Members, particularly in respect of this section and the proposed amendments, I have become worried that the Tánaiste's intention to achieve consensus will not lead to good or comprehensive legislation. People will not forgive Members if they get this issue wrong for the fourth time. If they so do, whoever is returned after the next election will not return to the issue until well into the autumn. Consequently, children will be left unprotected for the entire summer, or more worryingly, will have a false sense of protection. In respect of the section under discussion in particular, the Minister is now lifting individual provisions from other legislation and is transposing them without taking account of their context within the legislation introduced in the United Kingdom. Members should not put together laws to protect children in this fashion and I have grave concerns about such legislation.

I am also concerned about implementation. Where are Members going with this issue and how will it be implemented? Where is the protection? Members should consider that last year, 300 children who came to Ireland seeking protection and who were placed in the care of the Health Service Executive went missing. While I am sure there were many reasons for this, when one considers the legislation before the House and the manner in which it is being introduced, I do not see that Members are giving children the protection they need or deserve. Moreover, I am worried that people will not forgive Members for rushing this through again. This issue pertains to rushed legislation. When one takes a serious look at the complexity of legislation such as this and realises how difficult it is, I do not think it can be dealt with in this manner, particularly considering the issues we discussed during the past few minutes on whether one has a zone of complete protection from 15 to 17 years and whether it is extended to both males and females.

I am getting very worried listening to the debate. The Minister cannot for the sake of consensus do it in this fashion. I do not want to be one of the people who reads headlines during the coming months telling me an awful crime was perpetrated and somehow we did not legislate to protect children. It must be done, but is this the best way to do it? Will we offer complete protection to children? If not, parents will not forgive us.

See this speech in context