Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

We can talk our way around matters of this nature. The truth is, however, that outside this institution and in the context of the parsing of language, the understanding within the wider community is that people placed in detention are there on foot of some wrongdoing on their part. As the Minister indicated, that is not the case with the relatively small number of people about whom we are concerned.

Use of the word "detention" is wrong. It is outdated, belongs to a very different era and recalls echoes of an extremely bad past in respect of attitudes to children, mental health and a range of other areas. Thankfully, we have moved on in the context of the language employed in most of the areas to which I refer. Clearly, however, that is not the case in respect of the cohort of children to which I refer. That is a major mistake. I urge the Minister to reconsider the position.

See this speech in context