Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 12, line 17, to delete "families" and substitute the following:
"all families and the role of parents or guardians therein as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above".

This amendment was recommended by Barnardos, which argues that the current drafting of the Bill merely transfers the functions of the Family Support Agency, as listed in the Family Support Agency Act 2001, to the new child and family agency. The provision is considered too narrow and not sufficiently reflective of the range of appropriate and proportionate supports that will be on offer to families as per the constitutional amendment and as outlined in section 3 of the Child Care Act 1991. Family support plays a crucial role in preventing situations from escalating, but it is only one of a range of available options. Other options must be included in the suite of supports open to families in order to ensure they can address their own difficulties.

Barnardos also makes the case that the Bill implies that parents will play a passive role in these matters, being merely the recipients of services, as opposed to recognising the active role they actually play in improving their children's lives. The legislation should explicitly outline how the State will support families in order for them to be effective. The 2001 Act is heavily biased, according to Barnardos, towards supporting families based on marriage. Given the diversity of family formations in Ireland, the Bill should be reflective of all situations. I presume the Minister and her officials have had discussions with Barnardos on these points. I respect that organisation's views as coming from its experience in the field. We have agreed to put forward those views in the House as the organisation itself is not in a position to do so. I look forward to the Minister's response.