Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 12, line 15, to delete "families" and substitute the following:"all families and the role of parents or guardians therein as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above".

I seek an amendment to section 8(1)(c), which reads "support and encourage the effective functioning of families". This is one of the specified functions of the new agency, but the construction of this gives an interpretation that has applied historically to the word "family" and does not at all reflect the definitions that appear in the opening section of the legislation, where it is clearly stated that "family" means "spouse, parent, grandparent, step-parent, child (including a step-child), grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, and any other person who, in the opinion of the Agency, has a bona fide interest in the child".

The idea and understanding of family make-up today in Irish society is very different from what it was when I was a child. Accordingly, we should reflect in legislation our shared understanding and acceptance of this new reality. I have sought to do this by changing the provision to read "support and encourage the effective functioning of all families and the role of parents or guardians therein as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above", which is the provision we discussed with regard to amendment No. 2. This better reflects the intent of the legislation. It gives clarity to the agency's role and function and to our understanding and acceptance of the reality of family and families in Irish society today. I commend the amendment.

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