Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Ombudsman for Children has stated in relation to St. Patrick's Institution that senior officials in his Department had an attitude of indifference towards the young offenders and had no respect for them because they had broken the law; and if he will respond to her comments. [50451/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I greatly valued the report prepared by the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, last year following her discussions with young people detained in St Patrick's. Her work is much appreciated and she can be assured of my full support.

My Department also appreciates the work of the Ombudsman for Children. Any issues relating to the health and welfare of children and young persons are treated with the utmost seriousness by my Department; Ms. Logan and the work of her Office are held in the highest of respect. It was never my Department's intention to give any other impression.

In this context, in July of this year, I extended the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to include the examination of complaints from children detained in St Patrick's Institution. This is something she had been seeking for a number of years that previous Governments had refused to authorise. She can be assured of my Department's full support and will be facilitated in every way possible.