Review of Serious Incidents including Deaths of Children in Care 17 November 2011

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this important legislation. For many years lip service has been paid to the need to recognise the needs of children , especially those who may be vulnerable. My colleague, Deputy Barry, very correctly addressed a number of related issues. He referred in particular to the large number of children in care of one kind or another. There is another cohort of people who perhaps should be in care and would be better off if they were, even if only for a short time or a period of respite.

The Minister has referred to the degree to which and the speed with which the services can respond to a situation before it becomes an emergency. That is important. As Deputy Barry noted, schools do very important work in this area. Teachers can spot sensitive issues and deal with them. However, school can be a challenging place for children who are vulnerable, given the extent to which bullying goes on in certain schools. That is the responsibility of another Department and the Minister for Education and Skills comments on it regularly.

It has been brought to our attention on numerous occasions in recent years that this problem seems to be happening to a greater extent now. It seems to have a more sinister theme because of the use of modern technology, the Internet, or whatever means. This area needs to be identified and monitored to a much greater extent than it has been and measures must be put in place to discourage such approaches. Children can be very cruel to one another, as all of us know. There is a need to reassure in a meaningful and supportive way those who may be vulnerable.without necessarily imposing statutory interventions. One can operate using gentle persuasions, at least in the initial stages.

In my experience as a public representative I have often noticed the reluctance on the part of institutions, for example, the HSE or any relevant authority, to take much account of points made by public representatives. I have said as much to the Minister. These people have regular daily interaction with the public, they meet parents and children and look at them face to face. The number of times public representatives have spotted issues that have not come to the attention of the authorities is enormous. If all the Members of this House were to consider this aspect of the situation as a starting point they would find it very informative.

We need a better system that would kick into action immediately a matter is brought to the attention of the authorities, whereupon certain people would assume responsibility and take action. How often have we heard of situations where something that is not desirable has happened even though there had been a prior report? The reported situation may seem correct or well grounded but if it comes to the attention of a public representative or to any member of the public, that person or representative has a moral duty to do something about the situation. Of course, there must be regard to the rights of the individual concerned and to the concept of innocence until proven otherwise. There are particularly sensitive households where there may be problems that do not ordinarily and readily present themselves in a public fashion. In such cases it is very important that an intervention be made.

My colleague made reference to contributory causes. Sadly, these were present during the good times, the boom years. Ironically and unfortunately, the availability of too much money was a factor. It was not the case that social welfare payments were greater then than they are now but there was too much money around. Very often the people in question were not in receipt of any social welfare payments, good, bad or indifferent, but money was available in quantity. There were continuous and obvious indications throughout that period that a great deal of money, over and above what was required in any given households, was available. In a situation like that, obviously problems will arise – and did.

In my time in this House I have come across people, mothers and children , sleeping in the open air. They are from both the settled and the Traveller communities. That is a sad, harsh reality. As time goes on and the economic situation becomes tighter this situation will become worse. It is a very sad reflection on our society that this should happen at all. During the Celtic tiger years there was less camaraderie and less emphasis on interaction of a voluntary nature. Ultimately, we became a rather smug society, avaricious in many ways.

I compliment the Minister on bringing this debate to the House and for emphasising the importance of her office. We, too, need to recognise that as we move into the future, whether we like it or not we will be judged on the way we treat those who are vulnerable in our society – the very young and the very old. That is a matter for another discussion at another time and we will deal with it when the time comes.