Voice-SD Calls for Support for Its Tabled Proposals

Bratislava, 14 September (TASR) - The coalition Voice-SD party is calling for support for proposals put forward by its ministers and MPs in Parliament, arguing that these proposals are aimed at supporting families and protecting young people, party leader Matus Sutaj Estok and other party members told a press conference on Monday. According to its leader, Voice has three proposals ready in the area of child protection. One of these is a proposal from the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry. It aims to tighten up the penalties for neglecting school attendance and parental responsibilities, while in cases of repeated breaches of the rules, it would be possible to suspend the payment of child benefit on a temporary basis. Another proposal, put forward by the Education Ministry, is intended to introduce, among other things, regulations on social media for children under the age of 16. "This is an important step that we're taking for children, to ensure they have a safe childhood," commented Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD). A draft from the Health Ministry is also intended to contribute to child protection. Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) explained that the changes are designed to strengthen protection against new drugs and to restrict access to psychoactive substances, which young people obtain, for example, via so-called 'pink' vending machines. "We're going to fight this trend very radically [...] I can't imagine a parliament in which all 150 MPs wouldn't raise their hands in favour of this change," he remarked, pointing out that an amendment to the medicines policy, which he considers to be fundamental, is also currently undergoing its second reading in the House. am/df