Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In the context of the fourth report of the child rapporteur, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, I refer to the first report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, in which Deputy Howlin was a participating member, which was published in September 2008 and which included a proposal to give legal authority for the collection and the exchange of information concerning the risk or occurrence of endangerment, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse of children. What is the present position regarding the national vetting bureau Bill, about which it has been indicated repeatedly that a date of publication is not possible to indicate? The most recent statement from the Government has been that the heads of the Bill have not yet been approved. Will the Minister advise the House, in the context of all the valid criticisms Mr. Shannon has presented to politicians and Members of this House, whether certainty can be provided that this Bill will be fast-tracked? Moreover, will he advise at the earliest opportunity when Members will see the final verification of the establishment of the Department of children under the aegis of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald?

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