Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

My question on this matter is relatively straightforward. I join Deputy Ó Caoláin in emphasising the importance of providing aftercare services once someone leaves the care of the State on reaching 18 years. When they reach that age, young people who were previously in the care of the State will in many cases continue to have needs and we must ensure they are met. Why did the Minister do a U-turn on the first item of legislation for which she had responsibility following her appointment? Why did she go against what her party and the Labour Party had been arguing in favour of just weeks before last year's general election when what became the Child Care (Amendment) Act was being debated in the House? When she and her party colleagues were on this side of the House, they advocated in the context of the legislation to which I refer the imposition of a statutory requirement on the HSE. However, when she became responsible for ensuring the legislation was passed by the Houses, she performed a complete U-turn. Will she explain why she took that course of action and why Fine Gael and the Labour Party changed their positions on this matter after the election?

See this speech in context