Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

On the first matter, the provisions of the Children Act ascribing responsibility to parents for crimes committed by their children arise out of the District Court finding regarding wilful neglect on the part of parents. I am sure no Member is a cheerleader for putting parents in that position. State services generally try to avoid a scenario in accordance with the District Court conclusion in this regard. It is something that will be rarely done. As I said to Deputy Rabbitte, that measure was not commenced until July 2007. I do not agree this makes a mockery of the House——

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