Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Rehabilitation should be the first option when addressing minors with issues. The State has a duty to protect and facilitate children who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. We need to treat these children as minors, not as adults or criminals. They must be afforded all of the supports they need for rehabilitation. That should be the State's first priority. While the Bill gives consideration to the principle of equality of treatment between children in detention schools and adults in the prison system, the wording could reflect the sprit of the Children Act 2001 more closely by emphasising the importance of the principle that detention should be seen as a last resort for children.

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