Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

In some of the most terrible cases, such as the Roscommon case or the Kilkenny case, there were many civilians who knew what was going on and that something should have been done, and such persons should have the right to take cases if the rights of a child are not being vindicated and in those cases where the best interests of the child and the voice of the child should be paramount and guaranteed. It is unfortunate that the Government has not strengthened this Bill, and the amendment, to ensure that anybody could take such proceedings if the rights of the child are not fully being protected and vindicated.

I welcome the Bill. We will support the constitutional amendment. However, the Government could have gone further and in its policies over the coming months, it must do a great deal better in terms of providing the resources that can ensure the rights and protection of children.

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