Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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I will be brief. When a person raises an issue or a complaint with the Ombudsman for Children, which finds in that person's favour, but he or she still has a difficulty with the service - we are talking about the HSE in this regard - what does the person do? Does he or she come back to the ombudsman time and again? What is the best advice the ombudsman can give? I agree with Dr. Muldoon's comments on direct provision. I believe they are modern day Magdalen laundries, but in a different context. Given this State's history with children it is not good enough for us all to be shocked in ten or 15 years time when stories emerge. We know what is going on and it is up to us in the Oireachtas to change that. I am really interested in what someone does when they have a consistent difficulty and when the ombudsman is on their side it still does not seem to matter.