Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects to publish the Children's First legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36991/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I published the Heads of the Children First Bill in April 2012. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that organisations and professionals who work with children have a statutory responsibility to report reasonable concerns about the abuse or neglect of children in their care to the HSE Child and Family Services. I asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to consider the Heads of the Children First Bill and make recommendations and I received their comprehensive Report in July. I wish to thank the Committee for its work on this matter. My Department is currently considering the recommendations of the Joint Committee.