Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Government signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC, in September 1990 and ratified it two years later in September 1992. The first report was presented in 1997, the second in 2006 and the third was due in April 2009. While I note what the Minister has said, I hope the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will not see these long and unexplained delays in the future. Why is it that the report which was due in 2009 has not yet been presented? There must be an explanation and I hope the Minister is in a position to share that with us.

Where does the Minister believe the report will stand on the recommendations of the implementation committee on the UNCRC arising from the 2006 report? This must include the allocation of resources to enact the outstanding provisions in the relevant Children Acts for the protection of children and also incorporate the convention into domestic law. What is the current position in that regard? Also, the general principle of the best interest of the child being a primary consideration must be fully integrated into all legislation relevant to children.

The final recommendation is that social work services provided to families and children at risk be extended to cover seven days per week and 24 hours per day. These are the four critical points from the 2006 report. Where will we stand in regard to them when the Minister's report is completed?

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