Picture: Don MacMonagle
The chief executive officer of the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service celebrated one year in the role with a panel discussion on child care laws and how they impact on children’s lives in Ireland.
The event was arranged to celebrate Berni Smyth’s 12-month involvement with the organisation and the guest panel included Dr Maria Corbett of the Child Law Project and social workers JP O’Sullivan and Thomas O’Driscoll who is a strong advocate for the rights of children in care and their parents.
The audience represented a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies across Munster all of whom were urged to become familiar with the current proposals to revise the 1991 Child Care Act, enact the Child and Family Courts Bill and plans to implement Fagin’s Law for child victims of criminal exploitation later this year.
There was a general consensus that legislation must be supported by strong implementation plans that are adequately resourced and every effort made to ensure that the application of these laws leads to decisions that will improve the quality of children and families’ lives.
Dr Maria Corbett advised the audience to take opportunities to provide feedback by engaging in consultations and making representations to local politicians in order to address any areas for concern.
Berni Smyth, meanwhile, said that, despite growing pressures on services caused by issues such as poverty, homelessness and the Ukrainian crisis, there is much to be hopeful about.
“More child-centered legislation will also support frontline workers on the ground who are usually best placed to identify concerns and who have long called for an effective, integrated response across child welfare and criminal justice laws,” she stated.
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