Relevant  Legislation

Name of proposed Bill

 Purpose of proposed Bill

Children First Bill                             

This Bill will put the Children First National Guidelines on a statutory basis to implement the Programme for Government commitment in that regard. The development of this legislation is part of a suite of legislation to strengthen child protection which includes the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 and the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. The Ministers and officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Justice and Equality are working closely to ensure that the legislative elements are well-integrated and complementary.

Child and Family Agency Bill

The Bill will establish a child and family support agency for the delivery of child welfare and protection services.

Adoption (Tracing and Information) Bill

The Bill will provide for the Adoption Authority to have responsibility for safeguarding and maintenance of all adoption records in the State and for ensuring that access to those records is provided to an adopted person or birth parent in accordance with the Bill. The Bill will provide for an Information and Tracing Service to applicants seeking information about adoptions.

Children (Amendment) Bill

This Bill will amalgamate the children detention schools in the interests of cost/administrative efficiencies and the public interest. Also some technical amendments which will improve the workability of certain provisions are being provided for.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill

This Bill will amend section 17(2) of the Child Care Act 1991 to raise the time period that can be granted by the court for extensions of interim care orders, in the absence of parental consent, from 8 days to 29 days.