Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

While I do not intend to delay the proceedings of the House, it is not good enough for the Minister of State to say legal advice is as follows and he is relying on it. Will he elaborate as to why incorporating the term "placement" is deemed by his legal advice as inappropriate and against the letter of the legislation?

This is not just a case of the Opposition making a point. Various submissions, which I am sure the Minister has seen, from a wide range of NGOs and advocacy groups, such as Barnardos, the Irish Association of Young People in Care and the Irish Foster Care Association, have stated the language used is of some significant concern. The word "detention" is associated not only primarily, but also exclusively with criminal proceedings and the criminal justice system. In securing, assisting and caring for children and their needs, we should be moving away from language associated with the criminal justice system, crime and punishment. Will the Minister of State explain in more detail the reasons the terms used in these amendments are so repugnant and unacceptable?

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