Ombudsman for Children Reports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Questions (147)

Clare Daly

Question:

147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will require the Garda Commissioner to include a detailed section in her annual report to the Minister showing the number of occasions and circumstances when section 12 of the Child Care Act was invoked during the year, as recommended by the special section 42 inquiry conducted by the Ombudsman for Children; and the plans she has for implementing an independent audit of this function. [30547/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner has already informed me that she proposes to include in An Garda Síochána's Annual Report the number of times section 12 of the Childcare Act 1991 is invoked in each year. This information will be included in the 2014 Annual Report of An Garda Síochána.

As the Deputy is aware, the recommendations of the Logan Report have been accepted in principle by the Government and an Implementation Group, chaired by my Department, has been established to progress them. Among the matters to be considered by the Implementation Group is the question of the audit arrangements for the exercise by an Garda Síochána of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991.