Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Children First Bill. Today is a dark day for children because of the loss of the Minister for Justice and Equality. I happen to share the same political party as the former Minister but, all politics aside, I am not overly political in debate, and certainly not on this occasion. I am speaking about him as a man and I am fortunate enough to work with children in the care of the State. I am extraordinarily grateful for the work done by Deputy Shatter, which has had a direct impact on the quality of life of some of our most vulnerable children in the care of the State. I have never known anyone in the political class who has made such a contribution to children's welfare and well-being. On a personal note, I am very sad on this dark day when the Minister has had to leave his portfolio because of the amount of legislation he was continuing to champion, including the children and family relationships Bill, which is due before the House in September. It is pioneering legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of so many children.

Deputy Alan Shatter is a lawyer and understands family law. He has written numerous books on it, and it was an extraordinary opportunity for the State to have a man with his knowledge of children's rights and issues in that post. I commend him and thank him for his contribution to the well-being of children over the past three years and, all politics aside, I am sad for the children who have no voice today. He was an enormous asset for children and, unfortunately, he will not be in that role any more. I wish his successor well in his or her endeavours.

I was recently at a conference on the children and family relationships Bill organised by the Children's Rights Alliance.

There, I was blown away by the genuine effusiveness of the praise given to Deputy Shatter by all contributors there who were working with children, many of whom were working with very vulnerable children. People there included people like the former Supreme Court Judge, Catherine McGuinness, Geoffrey Shannon and Tanya Ward from the Children's Rights Alliance. They were effusive in their praise of Alan Shatter and what he had done for children and their rights. Not long ago, I heard Fergus Finlay speak on a radio station and when he was asked whether he thought the then Minister should resign, he said he genuinely hoped he would not and that he would get to introduce the changes he was about to bring about. I acknowledge the contribution of Alan Shatter to the rights of children.

I welcome this legislation to the House. It is timely and is a further commitment of the Government. It is not a solution in itself, but is another step towards ensuring that children and their rights are protected. Children are our greatest asset. In regard to the referendum that was passed last November but which is still held up in the courts, I regret that delay because that referendum was a milestone in our society. It was a referendum that would not have had an impact on the majority of children of this State, but it had an impact in regard to the most vulnerable children, those in the care of the State. Daily, I regret the delay in being able to implement the changes brought about by that referendum. Every day gone is a day wasted and I hope the issue gets through the courts quickly and we get to see change being brought about for the children impacted and that their lives will improve.

Today, I read the 2014 report card issued by the Children's Rights Alliance which welcomed the positive contribution of the Child and Family Support Agency, an organisation with 4,000 employees and a budget of €600 million. This is another step and welcome development towards improving the lives of so many of our children.

I have a concern with regard to one area of this legislation and I presume this can be examined further on Committee Stage. This concerns the need to include foster carers in the mandated section. Foster carers work with vulnerable and special children and many of them could be in the way of picking up on abuse of children coming into care. Many foster carers deal with short term care and children come and go through their homes through the system. I suggest the Minister should consider including a provision in this regard in the legislation further down the line.

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