Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I congratulate the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children on its good work. It is incumbent on us to have a debate very soon on what the committee has proposed in the light of the Government's earlier proposal. This highlights a very important issue. This report should not simply disappear into the Civil Service somewhere and reappear as a referendum proposal. The matter needs to be discussed in detail by all Members of the Oireachtas. While there is considerable good in what is proposed, I do not believe the committee has got there completely. For example, I would have concerns about the deletion of the reference to the family, in particular. There are other issues regarding acknowledging the role of biological parents that need to be reviewed. However, that is for another day when we have the substantive discussion.

I disagree with Senator Feeney in one respect. The Proclamation of 1916 referred to "cherishing all the children of the nation equally". Of course it is a reference to children regardless of their age; it is all the children of the nation. I do not regard myself of a child of the State as this committee seems to be proposing. It is important to focus on protecting all children within the State, which would extend our responsibilities in ways that would touch on issues relating to, for example, immigration and other vulnerable children in the State. There is a lot done, but more to do. The important thing now is to have an early and substantive debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas to build on the good work the committee has done.