Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 6

Written Answers. - Children (Juvenile Justice) Bill.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

295 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the specific international changes which have delayed the passage of the Children (Juvenile Justice) Bill, 1996, through Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9109/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy on 10 March 1999 an examination of the Children Bill undertaken by Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, included an appraisal of juvenile justice systems in other countries and of developments and advances in the juvenile justice area since the Bill was published in 1996.

Part of that appraisal involved the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, accompanied by officials from my Department and the Department of Health and Children, visiting, New Zealand in the autumn of last year to study at first hand that country's system of juvenile justice. New Zealand has an international reputation for innovative approaches in this area. That visit and follow-up contact with the New Zealand authorities has been particularly beneficial in terms of work on improving and updating the Bill.

It is almost a century since juvenile justice legislation of the scale proposed in the Children Bill was last enacted. I am anxious that the most modern, workable and comprehensive proposals for replacement legislation be enacted in its place.