Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 8, paragraph (a), between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:?(v) in their individual capacity, engages in the provision of child-minding services for reward for any period of time, to include persons who engage in the provision of a nanny and/or au pair service or similar such service whether in their own home or in the home of their employer,?.

I welcome the Minister to the House and I propose to discuss amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 10. Fianna Fáil believes the exclusion of commercial childminders from the vetting requirements introduced by the Bill is a major mistake. I raised this issue on Second Stage and these amendments are designed to address that deficiency. I do not understand the logic of vetting people who work in childminding centres but not nannies, au pairs or those who work as commercial childminders and have unsupervised access to children in their own homes. The amendments specifically exclude babysitters. I am not suggesting that there should be a vetting requirement if a neighbour's teenage daughter is babysitting for pocket money or a grandmother is taking care of her grandchildren. We believe, however, that parents should be able to apply to the Garda vetting unit to check the backgrounds of those who are seeking employment as nannies or au pairs. We welcome the legislation in spirit, and we welcome other improvements in the Bill. It is important, however, not to create a system where those who pose a risk to children opt to work in the least regulated part of the sector and can get employment in private homes instead of with child care providers. These amendments are important and I hope the Minister can accept them.