Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is trying to put words in my mouth. The type of regulation is key and we need to debate it. When we have a debate, I will make my party's position thereon known. I am not talking about increased State intervention, as the Minister knows, but about the fact that 50,000 children are minded by childminders who are not subject to child protection legislation or Garda vetting. The vetting legislation passed through the House last year and childminders were exempt from it. I asked the Minister quite clearly why this was the case. I asked her whether she will commit to amending the Child Care Act 1991 and to ensuring that childminders will be included in the Children First legislation to guarantee that childminders, be they minding one, two or three children, will be fit to practise, vetted by the Garda and adhere to the highest standards of child protection legislation.

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