Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The motion is simple in its nature and I am pleased that all parties are prepared to accept the extension of time being sought. It also offers the House an opportunity to express ongoing concerns about the nature and practice of child abuse in society. There is no doubt that recent events which are being examined by the Health Service Executive have appalled people and brought into question the extent to which society has a handle on this issue. This is not necessarily a criticism of the systems currently in place but as a society we are failing and we need to make changes.

I have made this criticism before but the situation will be helped when there is full implementation of the Children Act. Although I am aware of the political and fiscal realities behind it, I cannot understand why there continues to be a reluctance to implement the remaining sections of this Act. Until this is done, situations such as occurred in Roscommon, will continue to be repeated. Unless the necessary political action is taken, I fear for the immediate future.

I refer to the Oireachtas joint committee which is considering the constitutional issue of children's rights and I wish it well in its work. I hope for an early deliberation on the decision we need to make as to whether such a change should occur. There is widespread acceptance in society that such a change should be recognised in the Constitution and effected by legislation. We also need to deal with the issue of mandatory reporting. The debate on this issue is between those who think that mandatory reporting will somehow create a nanny state but I would argue and it is my party's policy that the absence of mandatory reporting has the exact opposite effect. A nanny takes care of a child's needs. The situation reported in the past week proves that a lack of care is evident in the case of too many children. We need to put in place systems to allow people express concerns in a confidential way and which can be acted upon following sufficient investigation.

It may be the case that mandatory reporting will result in people being unfairly accused but I am hopeful that the system of mandatory reporting will be used appropriately and we will have a society in which people will make such concerns known in a responsible way. The alternative is the appalling events in County Roscommon and in too many other locations.

I wish the commission well in completing its work and in using the extension of time wisely. The House depends on its deliberations being a means of informing the wider debate on the issue. I look forward to both Houses of the Oireachtas living up to the responsibility of both implementing the existing legislation and bringing forward further necessary legislation.