Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

Is the Taoiseach aware that 27 young persons died in State care over the past year? Is he aware that seven of the deaths were from suicide, four were drugs related and two were homicides?

Would the Taoiseach agree there is a serious situation where young people are dying while in child protection services? Why is there no outcry when these poor and vulnerable children die? Children are suffering because of this. Is the Taoiseach aware that the courts are increasingly being asked to rule on the rights of grandparents where parents cannot care for their children?

Is the Taoiseach aware that the solution lies in the children and parental responsibility Bill, which is awaiting Government action? If these young people were from affluent families, imagine the response. Does the Taoiseach accept that the death of any child is shocking? Today, I ask the Taoiseach what he will do about it. What programmes will he put in place to prevent such deaths? What will the Taoiseach do to protect these children and end these deaths, and will he bail out these children?

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