This Bill represents the most significant reform of childcare since the of the Child Care Act 1991 came into force more than three decades ago. I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on it. Child welfare practice, interagency working and our understanding of children's rights have profoundly changed since 1991. I am very glad that the law is going to reflect that reality. This Bill comes in the aftermath of a long and detailed review process that began in 2017 and that involved extensive consultation with Tusla, commissioned research, stakeholder submissions and pre-legislative scrutiny. It is important to acknowledge the depth of work that has gone into building consensus for reform. When enacted, this Bill will strengthen the legal framework that underpins the State's care and protection system. At its core, the Bill will improve how the State protects children from harm, supports families earlier and ensures that decisions are taken in line with the best interests and the voice of the child. It modernises care workers and care arrangements, embeds children's rights principles and enhances co-operation between the agencies responsible for supporting vulnerable children and their families. Organisations such as the Children's Rights Alliance have recognised that the Bill responds to long-standing concerns about the principal Act, particularly around care proceedings, voluntary care and the need for stronger and clearer provisions in supervision orders. The inclusion of timeframes for infant care orders is an important step in promoting stability for children. In particular, I want to welcome the establishment of an implementation and interagency committee. Many of the failures identified in the various reviews did not arise on foot of a lack of legislation. Rather, they came about as a result of poor communication, unclear responsibilities and inconsistent follow through across agencies. Co-operation between Departments, Tusla and other bodies is absolutely essential. The introduction of a legal duty on relevant bodies to co-operate with Tusla is a significant and overdue measure and it will help to close the gap that too often leaves children waiting while these agencies pass responsibility from one to another. The new guiding principles, which require that children's rights inform decision-making, bring domestic law into closer alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ensuring that the children's views are heard early in the process leads to better and more stable outcomes both for children in care and for those on the edge of care. I am sure the Minister will agree that stability matters and that children already coping with trauma can be further harmed by changes in placement, long delays in decision-making or fragmented service provision. By improving care planning, clarifying duties and powers and embedding co-operation, this Bill has the potential to deliver more predictable and supportive pathways for children and their families. I very much very welcome the Minister's announcement last December that she will be introducing an amendment to place the national review panel on a statutory footing. A statutory child death review mechanism is a key programme for Government commitment. It is essential that we have that there because as we all know, a child's death is one of the greatest tragedies anyone can experience. While the Bill contains many welcome reforms, there are matters that will require further consideration on Committee Stage. Stakeholders have highlighted ongoing concerns relating to separated children and the aftercare supports available to them. We must ensure that no child is left behind. I encourage the Minister to speak to guardians ad litem. We need to ensure that they are properly and appropriately legally advised.

Sentiment score: 0.33