Alex White (Labour)

This is the first I have heard of the ruling. How is it a potential charge? I am sure this is just a glitch in the system, but I have not even received a letter about the ruling. I accept that one normally gets a letter, but I literally did not know of the ruling until I stood up to address the amendment.

The Bill is an amendment to and extension of the Child Care Act. Its Long Title states: "to make further provision in relation to the care and protection of children". We should take a holistic view of what we mean by care and protection when discussing this question. It is in everyone's interests, including those of the Minister of State, the agencies and the Senators addressing the question, that we not confine ourselves to dealing with crises, namely, where an immediate intervention must be made to take a child into care. Part of what the Minister of State is doing through this Bill is solidifying and codifying the basis on which these orders are sought and obtained.

In all these circumstances, we should be prepared to go much further than simply dealing with what occurs when it unfortunately becomes necessary for a child to be taken into care. We should have regard to the reality faced by many homeless children and young people on the streets of our cities and towns. There is probably a spectrum ranging from homeless to situations in which a child is in such a vulnerable position that he or she must be taken into care to avoid or address a danger to that child or others. Would the Minister of State consider this as a context for what is being done in the Bill? Would it be necessary to introduce measures to ensure that, where children become or face becoming homeless, sufficiently robust measures are taken and early warning signs are heeded? Not for one minute am I claiming there are no services and neither am I claiming there is no basis for agencies to take action, but we should strengthen those services and take steps to ensure the relevant agencies, including the HSE, can move quickly to deal with a homeless child and provide suitable accommodation. That child might not be in immediate danger and, therefore, is not amenable to a care order being entered into or sought in respect of him or her. Unless it is an unfair phrase, however, he or she is on a risky road towards the types of measure that must be taken in the context of this legislation. We cannot close our eyes to the fact that so many young people find themselves homeless. Would the Minister of State consider addressing this fact through this legislation or elsewhere?