northern ireland assembly Tuesday 30 June 2009 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: Written Ministerial Statements The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process. office of the first minister and deputy first minister Protection of Children Published on Tuesday 30 June 2009 The First Minister and deputy First Minster (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): We are pleased to inform Assembly Members of the publication on Tuesday 30th June of the cross-departmental statement of the protection of children and young people. The issue of child protection and the safeguarding of children is a key priority for all of us and an issue which impacts on the work of several departments and indeed that of the Northern Ireland Office. Because of the cross cutting nature of this issue and its direct link to the ‘living in safety and with stability’ aspect of the 10 Year strategy we took the initiative to co-ordinate the development of this Statement. It is an issue which we also continue to progress through the work of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People which has identified ‘safeguarding’ as a priority. Importantly, whilst the statement represents a ‘snap shot’ in time, it also provides a clear route map for the road ahead. We would therefore encourage policy makers and professionals including those represented on area child protection committees (ACPCs) and the proposed new Safeguarding Board, non governmental organisations and departments to use this as a frame of reference to inform future work to safeguard children at a strategic level. Copies of ‘Safeguarding Children: a cross-departmental statement of the protection of children and young people by the Northern Ireland Executive’ are available from the Children and Young People’s Unit in hard copy. It has also been published online at: http://www.allchildrenni.gov.uk/ |