Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to put on the record my support for this Bill and the forthcoming referendum on children's rights. The Government has placed children's interests at the top of its priority list since its inception and, for the first time, a senior Cabinet Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, was appointed with responsibility for children's affairs. This is the fourth referendum the Government will have held in 18 months, which proves it is a reforming Government and wants to see real change in Irish society. I commend the Minister and the Cabinet for bringing this Bill and the amendment to the Constitution to the Oireachtas and to the people in the coming weeks.

It is not only this Bill as there is other legislation which will impact on children who might be vulnerable. There is the vetting legislation which was referred to in the House earlier in the week and which will introduce statutory legislative requirements for those who work with or come in contact with children on a regular basis. There is also the proposed adoption legislation and, of course, the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency, which will have the responsibility for child welfare and protection services, for which the HSE will no longer be responsible.

I recognise the Minister's commitment to this area and her track record. It is no surprise to me because of her dedication, work and commitment that she has managed to bring what has been a complex and difficult issue to the people to decide. I would also like to commend the joint committee that sat over many meetings and deliberated on the wording of any proposed referendum. The former parliamentarians of all parties who were involved should be recognised as we pass this legislation through the House. I believe the cross-party support for the Bill reflects the maturity of this democracy and this Parliament. However, we need to caution against complacency and ensure the people are fully informed of this debate and the implications it will have for the system of protection for children who might be at risk. This has been going on for the past 20 years and, at last, we are seeing progress.

I am a parent of three small children and believe it is important to acknowledge the many thousands of parents who look after their children, day in, day out and at night as well, because it is not easy to rear children in the current climate. It has never been easy. However, parents do what they do best, and they put their best foot forward to rear their children and give them the best chance in society. We need to publicly acknowledge this but while we do, we also acknowledge there are difficulties in some families and there are children at risk. This is where the weaknesses have been, although it has taken until now to acknowledge this. We are finally giving the people of Ireland the opportunity to put that right. This is an important point in regard to the referendum and the legislation. It will not only be for children who are citizens of this country but for all children who reside in the country. They will all be protected under this new legislation and the changes to the Constitution.

I am the chairperson of a board of management of a mid-size, 250-pupil primary school in County Waterford. I am acutely aware of the obligations on boards of management and people in positions of trust given the protection policies and school policies that have to be in place to ensure full protection. It is only right that in the most important policy statement of all, namely, the Constitution, children's rights are put first and foremost and that the best interests of children are protected.

We should also recognise the NGOs and advocacy groups who have always been a voice for children despite the fact the Constitution and the courts may not have heard the important voice of a small child in difficult cases. I am happy to support a Bill that will give the opportunity for the Irish people to let that child be heard in all proceedings relating to those cases. I commend the Bill and commend the Minister for her work.

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