Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to delay matters but in the context of what was said earlier in respect of parents' representatives, I want to raise a very technical point. I would be grateful if the Minister or his officials might give some consideration to the point in question because it seems there is a slight anomaly with regard to 30(1)(c), which relates to the members who will be parents and which refers to "2 members appointed in accordance with subsection (8), each of whom is the parent of a child who has not reached 18 years of age ... or is the parent of a learner". Under this provision, it seems that there is no requirement that the learner in the children detention school or wherever would be under 18. I am seeking clarification on this matter because section 33, which we debated in the context of amendment No. 8 and which deals with the cesser of membership, states that a person will no longer be a member of a board where "he or she ceases to have any child under the age of 18 registered as a student of a centre for education or recognised school, or a learner in a children detention school". This appears to indicate that the reference to children under the age of 18 applies to children in centres for education or recognised schools or to those who are learners in children detention schools. There seems to be a slight inconsistency between the wording used in the two provisions.

I would be grateful if the legislation could be re-examined in order to establish whether my reading of it is correct.