14 May 2012, 12:18
Irene Gunning, Chief Executive, Early Childhood Ireland; Ciairín de Buis, Director, Startstrong; and Patricia Murray, Chief Executive, Childminding Ireland will present submissions to the Committee on Health and Children tomorrow, 15th May on the draft Heads of the Children First Bill.
The Committee is inviting submissions from interested groups and stakeholders on the Heads of the Children First Bill which was recently published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald TD.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “The Minister has sent the Heads of the Bill, which aims to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children on a statutory basis, to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consultation before the Bill is finalised.
We are seeking submissions from and meeting with interested groups and stakeholders and tomorrow we will have the opportunity to get the views of a number of organisations and individuals who work with children and who will be working with the legislation on a daily basis. It is important that we get the views and perspectives of those working in child protection and youth services so that their contributions can help inform the legislative process.
Our meeting will also allow members of the Committee to be fully informed and enable us to provide meaningful input into the legislation, make observations and suggestions before the bill comes before the Dáil and Seanad.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow, Tuesday 15th May, 2.30pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For more details on making a submission to the Committee, click on the following link: http://bit.ly/KudZIb
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
ENDS
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Derek Keating, Fine Gael
Billy Kelleher, Fine Fail
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
David Cullinane, Sine Fein
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent