Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

The Children First guidelines were first published in 1999, 12 years ago, yet they are still not on a statutory footing. That understandably leads people to be anxious about the commitment of the Government to put them on a statutory footing. Notwithstanding the commitments the Minister is making about them being effectively implemented in many areas, the whole point of putting them on a statutory footing is that the State and its agencies are held legally accountable for ensuring that children are put first. In that context, the delay is worrying.

The State has failed abused children. We have a very high level of child poverty, as recent figures have indicated. Faced with an austerity budget in December which may impact on precisely the resources and supports that exist for children, is the delay in introducing the Children First guidelines after the budget due to the Government's intention to make cuts which will impact on our ability to put children first? Is the Minister going to be child proofing the budget? Will this be part of the budgetary process? The implementation of the Children First guidelines will be a key criterion and parameter over which the Government's budgetary constraints and need for austerity will not be allowed to pass. Will this be a red line? Will any cuts that impact negatively on children be offside?

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