Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If no other members wish to contribute, I will revert to what we discussed with Mr. Finlay. He referred to it being an either-or choice but that was not my point. Previous committees to this one did not do their work. That is why we are where we are and €15 million or €16 million per year is being spent on GALs, who are unregulated and unaccounted for. In any language, that is wanton waste. The reason for this is the language - mother's apple pie, the voice of the child and however else it is referenced. We must remove the emotion and deal with the hard, cold, clinical facts. There is a finite amount of money for looking after our most vulnerable asset, namely, children who are in need of care from the State. We must ensure that that is done to the best of our ability, which means that we must discuss money. That is why I am at a loss regarding the figures.

I have a bias, but to put it in context, Barnardos spent €3.5 million on providing a voice for 800 children in court. For 300 children, that €3.5 million would have provided food, a roof over their heads, warmth, love and everything else in a home for 365 days of the year.