Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

617. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that sporting organisations follow the Children First guidelines and other best practice for ensuring the rights of children are respected. [8966/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is taking a lead role in the cross-sectoral implementation of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children [2011]. A Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group has been established involving key Government Departments, An Garda Síochána and the Child and Family Agency. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is represented on this Group and additionally, a representative of the Irish Sports Council also attends.

The purpose of the Group is to promote the importance of Children First compliance across Government and to ensure consistency of approach. The Group has completed a benchmark phase of establishing structures, mechanisms and activities in place within each sector to support and drive the implementation process. In July 2013 the Government approved the publication of each Departmental Children First Sectoral Implementation Plan on the relevant Department websites. A key priority of the Group is the development of appropriate reporting mechanisms in respect of the implementation of Children First within each sector and the assurance arrangements to monitor implementation and compliance.

It is important to emphasise that there have been significant legal and structural reform changes to improve all of the systems of protection of children in Ireland. In my own area, these changes include the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, the ongoing implementation of Children First National Guidelines and the development of legislation to put key aspects of Children First on a statutory footing. Officials from my Department are continuing to liaise with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the drafting of the Children First Bill, which is now at an advanced stage. The Bill is included in the Government's legislative programme for the Spring/Summer session and I expect to submit it to Government in the coming weeks.