Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome that time has been given to make statements on this extremely important issue. As other Members said, we condemn the actions taken. It is unbelievable in this day and age to see such actions being taken by what we deem to be a western country. It has been estimated that 2,342 children were separated from their parents along the US-Mexican border between 5 May and 9 June, or in a little more than a month. It is very distressing and disturbing to watch the images and I am sure any Member who is a parent feels the same way. One immediately thinks of one's own children and the panic the parents must be experiencing in not knowing where their children are located. I cannot even begin to think what it must be like. We need to condemn it in the strongest possible terms and send a very clear message that it is completely unacceptable.

I understand the Tánaiste has said there might be some news coming from Washington D.C. The Administration has been embarrassed significantly on the international stage and perhaps intends to draw back on its actions, but I fear that it may be a temporary measure because three months ago the US Office of Refugee Resettlement stated it was ending its funding of a particular programme that ran emergency shelters and foster care programmes for younger children and pregnant teenagers arriving in the United States as unaccompanied minors. It transferred all of the children to other facilities and gave no explanation for doing so, but obviously it was planning its current policy.

While we are discussing children who find themselves in extremely difficult circumstances, as well as very vulnerable children, we should also be mindful of children in Palestine and Syria, as well as all unaccompanied minors in Europe. It is not good enough for us to single out one country. The issue is topical and we all are completely distressed and shocked by what is happening and condemn it, but we also need to ensure we will look after and stand up for children in all parts of the world. In that regard, we do not have a good history, given the way we have treated children in this country - Deputy Seán Crowe referred to direct provision centres and the fact that there are children in very difficult circumstances in this as well as other countries - but when it comes to issues in other places such as Palestine and Syria, we need to ensure we treat all children equally and condemn what is happening. I hope the international outrage expressed about its actions will embarrass the US Government and that it will row back on them. We need to be as strong on this issue as we are on all issues concerning children, regardless of where they are in world, including our own country.

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