Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on getting to this stage. It has been a firm commitment of hers since taking office to ensure we safeguard children into the future. Not only does the Bill deliver on a key commitment in the programme for Government, it is a direct recommendation of the 2009 Ryan report, which appalled people throughout the country with its description of how the State had failed children. The introduction of this legislation will end that.

I have listened to and welcomed the input of many of the Deputies on this issue.

They have spoken much about how different people in separate organisations have a role and a responsibility, with a statutory footing for reporting in the protection of children. It is important to reflect on how we all have a duty to protect children and that we can no longer turn a blind eye to the issue. It is not easy to make a report about a child and the issue can be fraught with ambivalence, difficulty and discomfort for those who believe they must make a report. We must all ask ourselves what will happen if we do not make such a report, especially now that there will be a statutory penalty for failing to make such a report. As a society, we must consider what it would mean for children if we were to fail in one of our fundamental roles - the protection of the youngest in society.

During the pre-legislative scrutiny stage the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs heard for the first time from representatives of all Departments who outlined their responsibilities to children. I am a former social worker and was often contacted by key people in communities who worked in public libraries, local housing departments of councils and youth services because of a difficulty with a particular child. When I asked them about their child protection policy, they would look at me blankly. They worked in local authorities, but they had no child protection policy. Child protection is not just about psychologists, GPs, social workers and people working in Montessori schools; it concerns those with whom children interact every day in every community and every walk of life. We all have a responsibility to protect and safeguard children.

I do not have much time, which is unfortunate, as I am fundamentally passionate about the issue. I believe in it and I am very happy to have seen the establishment of the Child and Family Agency. The Minister knows that the special rapporteur on child protection appointed by the Government made a recommendation in the report to the committee that we ban alcohol advertising at sports venues. This is important as, in the inquiries into child deaths - over 200 children died in State care - alcohol was a risk factor in every one. I implore the Minister to speak to her Cabinet colleagues about how important it is to get to grips with the alcohol alcohol.

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