John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I, too, welcome the Minister of State and the legislation before us.

The child must be central to any such Bill, and I am delighted we are introducing legislation the emphasis of which is on the welfare of the child. The legal definition of "foster" is to help grow or nurture talents. Foster children are in the legal guardianship of the State or a private adoption or foster agency, yet they are cared for by foster parents in their homes under some short or long-term foster care arrangement with the custodial agency. We are dealing here with people who take children into their homes on a short or long-term basis to care for, nurture and develop them, helping them bring forward all their talents, allowing them to take their rightful place in society.

As previous speakers said, it would be remiss not to acknowledge, congratulate and salute those families that take that responsibility upon themselves. Those of us who are parents know the responsibilities associated with parenting. Unfortunately, when we debate other issues in this House such as anti-social behaviour, we consistently return to parental responsibility. I do not know how many times during debates in this House that issue has been mentioned. However, there is a group of people who, rather than walk away from such responsibility, are willing to accept it for a child biologically not connected to them. For that reason, as modern society has developed, we have owed a great debt of gratitude to foster parents and the Irish Foster Care Association.

Senator Henry mentioned the five-year period, something on which I have reflected and which I could argue both ways. I was concerned at the unfortunate child who, after four years and 11 months, was moved to another family. However, one cannot give foster parents the responsibility that we give them willy-nilly without their having some form of medium to long-term relationship with that child. However, if a child enters foster care at the age of 12 or 13, when it enters secondary school, it practically goes through a full secondary school cycle before that responsibility is given to the parents.

I am unsure of my own opinion, since I can argue both sides, but this issue will benefit from a Committee Stage debate and from listening to the Minister's views. I am sure in drafting that point, a decision had to be reached and those arguments have been already considered. I look forward to Committee Stage and hearing the Minister's views in that regard.

We should also consider the different types of foster care. Here we are dealing mainly with long-term foster care, but we have day and short-term foster care, including that provided by relatives. However, in the long-term area, it is only right and proper that such decisions as are outlined in this legislation be within the remit of the foster parents. That is right, just and in the child's interests, for which reason I strongly welcome the legislation.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that in schools and among groups of children, stigmas attach very easily. Children can be very cruel to each other. It is not intentional, since young children simply behave that way. The stigma of a schoolchild who is in foster care but cannot have the same simple rights as other children, such as holidays, passports and medical attention — which is particularly important — must be addressed. For that reason I welcome this legislation.

I look forward to Committee Stage and to hearing the Minister's reasoning and the process taken to arrive at the five-year rule. I understand the necessity to come up with such a period. However, Senator Henry has raised an interesting point with regard to older children, especially children who are moved after being in care for a long period of something like four and a half years. Perhaps we should re-examine this issue. I support the Bill and look forward to Committee Stage.