Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1374. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the work of her Department's representative to the subcommittee of the interdepartmental implementation group on Children First; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33917/14]
View answerAs part of Ireland's response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ms Louise O'Keeffe and to inform its Action Plan in relation to same, the Government has initiated a review of current and planned child protection mechanisms in the school system to assess the extent to which issues identified in the judgement have been addressed in the period since 1973. In that regard, it was decided to use the experience and expertise of the existing Inter-Departmental Implementation Group on Children First in undertaking this review. The review is being undertaken by a specially tasked subcommittee within the Inter-Departmental Implementation Group. This subcommittee comprises senior officials from my Department, the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Health and Justice and Equality and others as appropriate. The subcommittee will, inter alia, review current and planned legislative and administrative child protection measures in schools and generally as decided by the Government.
