Dáil debates

Thursday, 12 July 2012

Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages

 

11:00 am

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Members for their co-operation in facilitating the passage of the Bill. I thank the Opposition Members for their co-operation and constructive contribution to the important debate on the Bill both in this House and in the committee. I also thank the members of the Fine Gael and Labour Party for their support.

This is very important child protection legislation. It creates a new era in which there will be an important obligation on those who know that a serious offence has been committed against a child or vulnerable adult to report that offence to An Garda Síochána, and where they have information that would assist the Garda in an investigation of such an offence an obligation will now exist to report that information to the Garda. There will be a ministerial order to bring the Bill into force following it being signed by the President, which I hope will occur within the next few days. The legislation should become operative at the end of this month.

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