Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order to Business, that No. 18, Planning and Development (Built Heritage Protection) Bill 2022 - First Stage, which is being introduced on behalf of my friend and good colleague, Senator Norris, be taken before No. 1. I understand my colleague Senator Keogan will be seconding it.

Today, I ask for a debate on the 2021 annual report of the Ombudsman for Children. Yesterday the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, talked about how his office was frustrated by the lack of places available for children with special educational needs. It was one of the key takes from the report. The ombudsman stated he was concerned the best interests of children are still not put at the centre of decision-making, but instead many choices about children are being made based on available budgets and funds. I understand where he is coming from and I understand the constraints of Government. However, we have to be ambitious. We must put the child at the centre of all Government policies. When the ombudsman voices his concerns, we really have to be concerned. I took the time to look at the 2021 annual report, which was launched yesterday. In the report, key issues such as education, health, homelessness, local authorities, justice, finance, social protection, welfare, family supports for children and care and protection for children are highlighted. Interestingly, I did not find much in the report about housing, so I took the time to do a word search. I was somewhat surprised how little mention there was of housing. However, there was mention of homelessness, which was interesting. I also want to share the ombudsman's positive commentary on the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022, which we will be discussing later. I think that when an advocate for children, such as the ombudsman, talks about an issue like that, we should sit up and listen.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is required under statute and law made in these Houses to submit to the Oireachtas a comprehensive annual report on the performance of its functions. Therefore, I call on the Deputy Leader to arrange for a debate, in line with the provisions in legislation that the ombudsman lays his report before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is timely. It is not good enough to have a report sitting in our libraries gathering dust. When Deputies and Senators passed legislation relevant to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, it was clearly envisaged we would review these annual reports and their recommendations. It would be helpful if we could have a debate on the report, time permitting, focusing specifically on the ombudsman's recommendations and the current annual report that was launched yesterday.