Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise two children's rights issues. I circulated a motion to my colleagues yesterday evening condemning the holding of child beauty pageants. I really hope we get cross-party support for this motion and I worded it in a way which I hope enables that. We need to unite in our opposition to these types of pageants held purely for financial gain. The message it sends to young people is reprehensible and we need to ensure we unite and say they have no place in Ireland. I thank Members who have already signed the motion and ask that all Members put their names to it.

I refer to Senator Crown's and Senator Daly's Bill on smoking in cars with children. Senator Crown has been in touch with Department officials and has been advised that the Government should have amendments by the first week of April. I have been in contact with the Minister's adviser and got a similar message. Will the Leader set a date for the first week of April, remembering that May will the second anniversary of commencement of this Bill in the House? The Government has had 20 months to draft amendments to quite a clear Bill, which everybody says they support. However, we do not seem to be able to get the amendments. I hope that in the first week of April, the Leader will allocate time for this Bill but I put him on notice that I expect the Government amendments to be tabled here. We will not accept it going to the Dáil with the Bill and tabling the amendments there. This House should ensure the Bill is completed here so that it can sail through the Dáil and perhaps be agreed by it before Easter. I ask for a date for that Bill.