Dan Neville
Ceist:183 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if the proposed children's ombudsman will be set up on a statutory basis; if the ombudsman will be independent of Departments; and if the terms of appointment will enable him to highlight (a) the importance of children's rights through the media and contact with schools organisations providing services and in the Oireachtas within public and private services and in Government Departments and (b) the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child through media comment on legislative and administrative proposals which would impact on children's rights including making submissions to parliamentary committees. [27332/99]