Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I propose to share time with my colleague, Deputy Robert Dowds. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. The Bill will work alongside legislation such as the Children First Bill and the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information) Bill. The Bill will be complimented by a new provision in the Constitution if the people decide to pass the children's rights referendum. We published the wording of the referendum yesterday and it was good to see it broadly welcomed by all sectors. It is a positive start to see such support and hopefully it will translate into a "Yes" vote on Saturday, 10 November.

I will lead a team of canvassers and campaigners in County Meath. I was asked to be the director of elections for the Labour Party campaign in Meath this morning. I aim to make sure we put the case for the referendum to the Irish people and the people of Meath in order to get a strong "Yes" vote. Such a vote will confirm the strong desire of the people to protect the most vulnerable in our society. It is not good enough that our vetting procedures are done on a non-statutory basis.

I noted some criticism in the newspapers by members of the Fianna Fáil Party. It is important to point out that Fianna Fáil did nothing about this matter through its time in government. Its members had over 14 years to act but they did nothing. Fianna Fáil promised to introduce legislation but nothing ever came of it. The promise remained broken even after the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children recommended, in September 2008, that such legislation should be published no later than December of that year. At the same time, there were countless reports outlining the State's abject failure to protect children. Each report chronicled a history of pain and neglect. No one on this side of the House wants such reports to be written in 40 years' time about a child's life in Ireland today. That is why we mean to see action.

The procedures we have today are not working. A HIQA investigation found that 43% of staff working in elderly homes have not been vetted. The Teaching Council stated that over 40,000 teachers registered with the council have not been vetted. Garda vetting for HSE staff has only been mandatory since 2007. We need to see improvements and the Bill will set up vetting procedures to be followed by all professions. As much as possible, it will ensure children are only in contact with adults who have been confirmed as not being a threat to their welfare. The Bill is another step in the right direction for child protection in Ireland and I wish the Minister well.

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