Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

In line with the programme for Government, I am committed to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First, the national guidance document on the reporting and management of child welfare and protection concerns. The need for such legislation was already highlighted in the implementation plan prepared following the publication in July 2009 of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. My Department has made much progress in recent weeks in developing the scope and application of the legislation.

I will be publishing later this week a new Children First national guidance document. I also hope to be in a position shortly to outline further details on the policy approach that will inform the proposed legislation. It is my view that the new legislation needs to extend beyond the reporting of suspected abuse.

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