James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 17 of the Bill provides for an inquiry to be held by a director into an alleged disciplinary breach by a child.The provision allows for the discretion of the director in deciding whether to hold an inquiry into a disciplinary breach. Where the director decides to do so, he or she shall inform the child of the alleged breach and the date and time of the inquiry.

Subsection (3) of section 201, which is being inserted into the principal Act, provides for the procedure relating to an inquiry to be prescribed by the Minister. The procedure prescribed would include matters relating to ensuring fair procedures, such as providing the child with an opportunity to be heard and to respond to any allegation of a disciplinary breach. It is intended that the operational and practical matters relating to such an inquiry will be prescribed and will include matters relating to fair procedures for the child.

The issue raised in the amendment will be comprehensively addressed in regulations to be adopted on foot of the enactment of section 17 of the Bill. Therefore, I do not propose to accept the amendment.