Vol. 481 No. 4
224 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to combat the problem of juvenile crime; his views on whether parents should be made responsible for the criminal action of their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16167/97]
The Children Bill, 1996 is primarily concerned with the problem of juvenile crime. The Bill had passed Second Stage and was awaiting Committee Stage when the 27th Dáil was dissolved last May.
A key priority in the Government's Action Programme for the New Millennium is the enactment of comprehensive juvenile justice legislation and to that end the Government recently approved the restoration of the Children Bill, 1996 to the Order Paper at Committee Stage. At present I am examining the Bill with a view to bringing forward amendments.
Making parents responsible for the crimes of their children may run the risk of breaching constitutional due process guarantees. However, I am examining the possibility of providing in the Bill for further means of encouraging parents of juvenile offenders to face up to their responsibilities as parents.
