Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus, go mórmhór, roimh an mBille seo. In accepting the Minister's remarks on reasonable chastisement, it is important to acknowledge that it is a positive amendment and to commend Senator van Turnhout and the Minister on it. We were out of step with Europe and had that look of austerity about us in the context of what the Council of Europe referred to as the violation of young people's rights.

The Ceann Comhairle does not want us to give Second Stage speeches but Deputy Troy referred to the ongoing ills he raises every time he gets a chance. He has a point in terms of how one brings forward the rights of the child. The current Dáil and Seanad have seen the committee system move forward through its pre-legislative scrutiny. The Ceann Comhairle has allowed us to do that and deserves credit for doing so. The committee system has dealt forensically with the children's legislation. While I am digressing slightly, I disagree with the Ceann Comhairle's suggestion that we should not have a committee week. We should have a committee week where we can bring the scrutiny work we do to the floor of the Chamber. To be fair to Deputies Troy and McLellan and Senators van Turnhout and Henry, we have worked in the committee in a non-partisan way to do what is best for children. The legislation demonstrates amply, as do other Bills, the collaboration and collective responsibility involved. While I am biased, I consider that the Committee on Health and Children has worked very well in putting forward suggestions and amendments, which is a credit to our members.

Today is a reforming day. It is about legislation being enacted and the child being recognised. Deputy Troy's point that it is about parents and positive parenting being given an opportunity to shine is equally true. We had a briefing this morning with Senator Eamonn Coghlan on the healthy city initiative. One of the things we must do if we are to learn from the past is to be proactive with parents to empower them and work with them to ensure their parenting is positive and that they have the skills and resources to become better parents. In reflecting on the past, is it not brilliant and extraordinary that a child can be recognised in his or her own right under the Constitution? It requires us to learn from the past. Those of us who were in the previous Seanad discussed the reports on child abuse and the shock and horror associated with it. I said during the debate on the Cloyne report that I was in the position of knowing some of the people who were abused and some of the abusers. It was an extraordinary reflection on society that we were forced to deny things. In a cathartic exercise, we were able to debate and give people the freedom to be who they were in the context of the legacy of the past. Just last week, the Joint Committee on Health and Children heard testimony on the adoption (information and tracing) Bill. We heard of the powerful personal experiences of some of the mothers and women, which was extraordinary. We were moved at the committee meeting to hear from women who were treated appallingly by the State. With this Bill, we again see the Oireachtas reflecting on the past and learning from it. The Taoiseach was right to praise the work of social workers. They are tremendous people who do huge work in all our cities and counties.

Deputy Troy mentioned the budgetary effect. The previous budget included a child care package and we have had an increase in child benefit. We have seen an increase in the number of teachers being employed to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. It is all about assisting families and children for their greater good. We have a collective responsibility in this Dáil and Seanad. I am very proud of the men and women who serve on the Joint Committee on Health and Children. They have done powerful work in analysing legislation. I support the amendment.

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