Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. It is important to acknowledge that this is the first Government to have a senior Minister with responsibility for children. Until recently, the approach to children’s issues was similar to that to children, namely, being seen but not heard. The outcome to the children’s rights referendum means that children are now recognised in the Constitution. The referendum debate was an important exercise in raising public awareness of children’s issues. The Seanad is the appropriate Chamber in which to have this discussion. We are charged with teasing out policies and the future we would like to see for our children. Small incremental but important and significant steps have been taken in reforming the youth justice system such as the changes at St. Patrick’s detention centre.

I note that the Minister released a statement earlier on the incident that occurred at a night club last night, calling on all stakeholders to engage in a process to reach a measured response.

Tackling and preventing juvenile crime is extremely important. The Seanad has unanimously passed motions on restorative justice. I welcome restorative justice actions being taken on a voluntary basis, particularly in schools. I organised a briefing for Oireachtas Members, in the days when we could use the audio-visual room to bring in delegations, by children from St. Mark’s school in Tallaght who have successfully adopted a restorative justice approach to dealing with conflict in the school. Those Members who did attend were struck by the presentations by the students on how they dealt with issues through a restorative justice approach with teachers and students, particularly in dealing with bullying. The school in Tallaght has become a much better place as a result of this approach which could be used to deal with cyber bullying.

The Minister has outlined her priorities for the juvenile justice system, what has been achieved and what she wants to see happen in the future. We must realise Rome was not built in one day and that it will probably take two terms to put a juvenile justice system in place, one of which we can all be proud and which will ensure children are protected.

The establishment of the Child and Family Agency is a most impressive development. Pulling all of the agencies together under one umbrella with a budget of €500 million or €600 million will not only lead to efficiencies but will also facilitate interdepartmental co-ordination. A child who becomes vulnerable and has issues will not fall between Departments and we will have a unified approach. All of the Departments, including the Department of Education and Skills, and the Department of Justice and Equality, will buy into the one principle and case conferencing will be properly co-ordinated.

I acknowledge the pioneering approach taken by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, in this issue. He and the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, work together for the benefit of all citizens, particularly children.