asked the Minister for Health whether the proposed new Children Bill which is being prepared in his Department will contain provisions to reform the law relating to fosterage.

It is intended that the Children Bill will include provisions for the updating and improvement of the laws relating to fosterage. In the meantime, I have issued new regulations, which have come into operation on 1 April, to replace the Boarding Out of Children Regulations 1954.

Is the Minister in a position to indicate whether the changes in the law relating to fosterage will specifically define the legal rights and duties both of foster parents and foster children and, in particular, define the status of foster parents about which there is considerable legal uncertainty? This has given rise to a number of difficulties in some areas.

The regulations did not extend that far. They related to a large extent to the position concerning the religion of the child.

I was speaking about the proposed Children Bill.

That aspect will be considered by the Government under the new Bill.

In relation to the position of foster parents, when drafting the new Children Bill I would ask the Minister to ensure that it contains a clause relating to the position of foster parents when they seek passports for foster children. This matter is causing considerable difficulty for many foster parents who have children placed with them for long-term fosterage. The foster parents experience enormous difficulties in obtaining passports to take the children for a holiday of two to three weeks outside the jurisdiction. Pending publication of the Bill, I ask the Minister to look into this matter to see if some regulations could be introduced to provide for this situation.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper.