Proposals to create an Ombudsman for children look to have been shelved despite enjoying all-party support, it emerged today.
With just six Dáil sitting days remaining before the General Election,
ireland.com
has learned there is little prospect of the Bill coming before the Dáil before the summer.
The nine available days were reduced to six to allow ministers attend St Patrick’s Day celebrations abroad. In political circles, however, there is speculation that Dáil business has been deferred to allow many TDs attend this week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Labour’s spokesperson on Children, Ms Roisin Shortall, said the fact that the Government were prepared to shut down the Dáil so that TDs could go to Cheltenham speaks volumes about the Government's priorities with regard to children.
Ms Shorthall said the loss of the three days could have made the difference between the Bill being passed and being shelved.
She said the Government had "prevaricated" on the issue and had "downgraded" children’s rights.
The Children’s Ombudsman Bill was published last month and was fast-tracked through the Senate in the hope that it could be passed into law before the Dail is dissolved for the general election.
When the Bill was published by the Minister of State with special responsibility for Children, Ms Hanafin, on St Valentine’s Day, she acknowledged that there may be insufficient Dáil time to allow it pass through all stages of the Oireachtas. But she expressed hope that, with all-party support, the Bill would become law before the general election.
However, despite enjoying the broad support of Fine Gael and Labour, the three days lost due to the minister’s trips almost certainly means the legislation needed to create the position of a Children’s Ombudsman must wait until later this year at least.
Fine Gael’s spokeswoman on Family Affairs, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, said she was shocked at the "lack of political will" on the matter.
"It should be a priority given the appalling state of services for children in care," said Ms Fitzgerald. "This government seems to have difficulties with rights-based issues," she added.
The ombudsman for children was intended to promote the rights and welfare of children and examine and investigate complaints against public bodies and other institutions such as schools and hospitals.
The death of Kim O'Donovan (15) who was found dead at a bed and breakfast in Dublin a month after absconding from a care facility in Wicklow caused controversy two years ago and prompted greater urgency in the longstanding plan to create an ombudsman for children.
The Children’s Rights Alliance have been campaigning for an ombudsman since 1995 and High Court judge Mr Justice Kelly has regularly criticised the Government from the bench for its failure to provide adequate care for problem children.
"The decision by the Supreme Court to limit the power of the judiciary in these matters makes it particularly important that the office of children’s ombudsman be created without delay," Mr Ray Dooley chief executive of the of the CRA said.
Mr Paul Gilligan of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has called for "a commitment from all parties to prioritise the legislation after the general election."