Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)

Children have a certain vulnerability, often even in the care of well-intentioned parents, and it is vital that in this country we provide a secure environment for them to grow up and flourish. As the leaders of future generations it is indisputable that children have a central role in this society and therefore there is a special duty on the State and Government to protect them. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Ireland has ratified, acknowledges the family as the fundamental unit of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of children. It also states that the family should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.

The term "family" should be given its modern definition, encompassing the many different forms and types of families in our society. Within this context, it is vital that the State provides a robust infrastructure for children and their families. This extends far beyond child benefit and welfare rates to encompass child care support, social welfare protection for parents, family income supplement, employment opportunities, health care, education and security. To view the State's role in the protection of children solely in monetary terms is narrow, short-sighted and sometimes ignores wider impact of State services and actions that encompasses a child's life. The welfare of a child cannot simply be judged on the basis of a payment.

A holistic approach is required as there are many other important factors to be considered. A child's life is impacted, for instance, when his or her parents cannot get work, grandparents cannot get the care they need and family resources have to be diverted towards them or siblings cannot get help with special needs and the family has to put its hands in its pockets to pay for it. Resource demands on parents have an expenditure reducing impact on families in the same way as income reductions.

The welfare of the child has to be judged as a whole in the context of his or her entire family and how the family unit is treated in society. In order to safeguard parents in this country, it is fundamentally necessary to protect the social welfare paid to parents and ensure the most vulnerable families are shielded from the very worst effects of the recession.

We are in the midst of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis and in order that the most vulnerable in society are protected an ambitious reform of the social welfare system it is absolutely necessary. The Labour Party, under the guidance of the Minister, Deputy Burton, is committed to doing so in line with its principles of solidarity and fairness.

The programme for Government rightly states that the elimination of poverty is a Government objective and commits to reducing the number of people experiencing poverty. The range of initiatives which the Government has introduced and put in motion includes things that will have a direct impact on people and their lives. Reversing the minimum wage cut will do more to protect people from poverty than social welfare rates. Reforming and putting in place the JLC protections for lower paid workers so they have an income stream will protect children and families. Maintaining the Croke Park agreement and its protection of low paid workers in the Civil Service and public service is a way of protecting children from poverty by making sure their parents can afford to look after them. Introducing the jobs budget also helps to create jobs, which is the best way to keep people out of poverty.

This debate must expand beyond a simple focus on monetary provision. We must examine how the State interacts with children on every level. A constituent told me today he is awaiting an appeal for domiciliary care allowance in respect of his two children, both of whom have special needs, with one suffering from severe autism. Those types of additional facilities and services are much more important in ensuring people have stability in their lives and do not have to put their hand in their own pocket for services which should be provided by the State.

I support the thrust of the motion and call for a broader debate. We will not agree with colleagues opposite on the specifics of the proposal, but we can agree that child poverty should be at the core of every decision in the next budget.

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