Charlie McConalogue
Question:231 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will list the Bills published by her since the new Government took office. [17116/12]
View answerWednesday, 28 March 2012
Questions (232, 233, 234)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:232 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Bills she intends to publish before the end of 2012. [17117/12]
View answerCharlie McConalogue
Question:233 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Bills she intends to introduce to Dáil Éireann if this Government runs its full five-year term and the approximate timeframe in which she hopes to publish each Bill. [17118/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 233, inclusive, together.
I have an extensive legislative programme to address a number of issues which fall within my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
My first legislative priority was to establish the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as a legal entity. In order to do this efficiently, I made significant amendments to the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009, rather than wait to introduce a new Bill. The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 was enacted in July 2011. The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 also provided for the establishment, on a statutory basis, of the special care processes in the High Court. I have made considerable progress in addressing the legislative programme of my Department and I intend to introduce the following Bills in the Dáil in 2012:
Amendment to the Constitution Bill (Children's Referendum);
Adoption Bill (relating to the Children's Referendum);
Children First Bill;
Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill;
Child and Family Support Agency Bill, and
Children Act (Amendment) Bill