Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This amendment arose out of discussions in both Seanad and Dáil Éireann. Those discussions related to the competency of officers who were conducting interviews with children. It was argued that such officers should have an expertise in communication and child specific protection needs. Having considered these matters and their importance, we have drafted a new section to provide for many of the concerns raised in the earlier debates on the Bill.