Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Tá gealltanas soiléir i bhForógra 1916 a léiríonn gur cóir cúram cothrom a thabhairt d'achan páiste sa náisiún, ach is soiléir go bhfuil an gealltanas sin scriosta. Bhí ionadh an domhain orm ar maidin nuair a léigh mé faoi na páístí a fuair bás agus iad i gcúram an Stáit.

It is deeply shocking that at the height of the Celtic tiger 196 young people died while in the care of the State or in contact with child protection services. This morning's media coverage of the report to be released later makes distressing reading. A total of 112 of these deaths were due to unnatural causes such as drug overdoses, suicides, unlawful killings or road traffic accidents and the report finds that earlier and more consistent intervention could have helped these children to overcome their vulnerabilities. Sinn Féin has warmly welcomed the work done by the Government, including the appointment of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I commend the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald's work and commend and welcome the publication of the heads of the Children First Bill, but these children and their families were failed by the State. It is a long way from cherishing all the children of the nation equally-----

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