Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this Bill. I compliment the Minister on bringing forward this legislation and also his colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald who deals with this area. This legislation, together with other legislation such as the Children First Bill, the National Vetting Bureau Bill, the new child protection and welfare proposals and the proposed referendum, represents a shift in attitude on the part of the State which is very welcome. Many reports have been issued in the past, going back as far as the Kilkenny incest report, dealing with matters relating to children and the abuse of children and vulnerable adults. We were aware of the situation but unfortunately, little or no action was taking arising from those reports. Even at this stage in 2012, we are only now beginning to put in place the architecture of legislation necessary as a first step.

The culture of silence held sway over many years and it is not acceptable; it is not good enough nor was it ever good enough and it should never have been tolerated. There needs to be a complete cultural change, not just by organisations working in the area of child protection but also among the general public. I refer to recent surveys such as that carried out by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

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