Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I join the Deputy in welcoming the report of the special rapporteur on children, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon. The Deputy and I had much interaction with Mr. Shannon and he certainly is an authority on this issue. Unfortunately, this report yet again makes for stark reading and demonstrates the depth of the problems that still face the child protection area. It was for this reason the present Government established a Minister for children at Cabinet rank. The Bill to which the Deputy refers has been advanced to heads of Bill stage and will be treated as a priority by the Minister for children.

See this speech in context