Michael Healy-Rae
Question:483. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Children and Family Relationship Bill 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27244/14]
View answerTuesday, 24 June 2014
Questions (483)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware, the Government published the draft General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill on 30 January 2014 and forwarded the Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality requesting that the Committee undertake a public consultation on the Scheme. The advice of the Ombudsman for Children was also sought on the proposals. I received the advice of the Ombudsman for Children on the General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill on 28 May 2014, and the pre-legislative scrutiny report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the General Scheme on 29 May 2014. The Ombudsman's advice and the Committee's report contain a number of recommendations which I am currently considering in the context of finalising the General Scheme and of seeking Government approval to draft the Bill proper. My aim is to proceed to drafting of the Bill as soon as possible, subject to Government approval, with a view to enactment in 2015.