Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of Sinn Féin, I also offer support. We have a long history, under Deputy Ó Caoláin's leadership, of working with the Government on children's rights issues and I am sure the Minister will testify to that. We also will work with the Government to ensure that children have the proper legislative protection.

Last night's investigation by RTE, as the Taoiseach acknowledged, uncovered some disturbing realities. We should recognise the excellent work done by many child care workers who do their jobs properly. Unfortunately, this is a business and it is for profit, and we need to face up to that reality also. The needs of the children in many cases, as we saw last night, are not being met. In reality, they are being violated - young child strapped to chairs and locked in rooms, daily diaries falsified, children being treated and thrown about as if they were ragdolls. This is emotional and physical abuse of these citizens and at the core of it there is a failure of regulation and governance. These breaches are widespread. There is no adequate robust inspection regime. We are told some crèches in some parts of the State have not been inspected for four years.

The question which gets to the core of all of this - these crèches receive State funding - is how this can happen. How can taxpayers' money be given to a crèche when it has not been inspected? There are no inspectors in local health offices in Dublin south city, Sligo, Leitrim, my constituency of Louth, Cavan and north Monaghan, and yet these crèches receive millions of euro of taxpayers' money. There seems to be an overemphasis on the business interests of child care providers and an under emphasis on standards, training of staff and regulation. We also must recognise that this is a very profitable business, not least because the State is funding it. Would the Taoiseach ensure that no State funding will be provided without a stringent inspection regime, proper training and robust regulation?

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