James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is very concerned about the child poverty situation in the country. Hitherto we have not had the resources to address this issue in any meaningful way, but the resources are becoming available. I am not saying we can cure this problem overnight. It is very hard to undo a situation that grew up over many years. I will not get into political point scoring about the state of the country's finances, but we have to be realistic. Many different things need to be done, not just with children, but in the health services, in education infrastructure and many other areas.

As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I believe in children being the future of our nation. I believe in their right to a present, not just a future, that should be safe. It is a priority for me that they can learn to their fullest ability and feel connected and respected. Across Government we need to examine further how to address the issues of child poverty in a way that will address it completely and in a fashion that is sustainable.

See this speech in context