Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I still oppose the Minister of State's amendment, which states, "The best interests of the child will be a primary consideration in the application of this section", rather than in the application of the Bill as a whole. I fail to see what unintended consequences there could be in executing Government policy to look after the best interests of the child. Children, by definition, are vulnerable and children of refugees and asylum seekers, in particular, are even more vulnerable. As a State, we should protect the best interests of the child and that should permeate the Bill. The continuous reference to the best interests of the child being taken into account within this section is simply not good enough.

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