9 May 2012, 16:37
The Committee on Health and Children will resume its hearings on the Children First Bill tomorrow, 10th May when it meets with representatives from the sports and youth sectors.
The Committee is inviting submissions from interested groups and stakeholders on the Heads of the Children First Bill which was recently published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald TD.
Tomorrow the Committee will hear from John Treacy, Chief Executive, Irish Sports Council; Gearoid O' Maolmhicil, Child Welfare Officer, GAA; Kate Hills, National Children's Officer, Swim Ireland; Mary Cunningham, Director, National Youth Council of Ireland; John Cahill, Foroige; and Eddie Darcy, Youth Work Services Manager, Catholic Youth Care.
The purpose of the Bill is to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children on a statutory basis. The Minister has sent the Heads of the Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consultation before the Bill is finalised.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to the drafting of this crucial piece of legislation. However, for the Children First legislation to be effective, we must engage with and have an open dialogue with those groups who will be working with it on a daily basis.
Therefore, it is important that we meet with people working in the sports and youth sectors to get their perspectives on the draft Heads of the Children First Bill. Our meeting tomorrow will give them a chance to contribute to the drafting of this legislation which will provide the necessary safeguards to protect children and combat child abuse and neglect.
Our meeting will provide us with an opportunity to receive input from key stakeholders on the proposed Bill. This is the first time that the Joint Committee on Health and Children has been asked to provide its input into the Heads of a Bill and the process will enable members to make observations and suggestions before the bill comes before the Dáil and Seanad.”
The meeting takes place today, Thursday 10th May, 11.30am in Committee Room 2, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For more details on making a submission to the Committee, click on the following link: http://bit.ly/KudZIb
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
ENDS
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Derek Keating, Fine Gael
Billy Kelleher, Fine Fail
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
David Cullinane, Sine Fein
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent