Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I attended the launch of the report of the Child Care Law Reporting Project. Its research showed that nearly one in three children in care cases have psychological, educational or physical special needs. The report highlights the need for a dedicated family court. The authors, Dr. Carol Coulter with Lisa Colfer, Kevin Healy and Meg McMahon, also raised the reality for vulnerable adults and vulnerable parents and the difficulty accessing services such as mental health, intellectual disability and addiction services. Perhaps that is an issue we could address in the Seanad. We could also examine the connected issue of families, children and their parents, being able to access the appropriate services they need in a timely manner. I commend the authors on giving us this evidence, which will help us in our work. I also commend the Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, Atlantic Philanthropies and the One Foundation who supported this work.

I also wish to raise the International Protection Bill 2015. We will have an opportunity this afternoon to outline our views on the Bill, which is very welcome. However, I have concerns about children. Many of the recommendations of the working group report regarding children have been ignored in the Bill. Committee and Remaining Stages are scheduled for Thursday next. Given the time that is available to us, I give notice to the Leader that I intend to table Report Stage amendments so I ask that Report Stage be scheduled for a date next week. That would give us time to table considered amendments. I was not here last week due to the passing of my father, and I thank Senators for their kind wishes, but I wish to ensure that this Bill is given the consideration it is due. I also wish to ensure that children are not ignored in it.