Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I listened with interest to some of those speaking at the launch of the Mercy Law Report on children and homelessness. It makes some very good points on how we can help to tackle at least some of the difficulties faced by children who are homeless. What is worrying is that it noted that the insertion of Article 42A into our Constitution has done very little to increase protection for children. The report ultimately concluded that it is very clear that there is a legal gap in protecting our most vulnerable children.

Will the Minister be engaging with the authors of this report, perhaps to look at ways to close these gaps? Are there ways for her Department to work with other Departments, similar to the way it worked with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to bring in the free travel pass for children in emergency accommodation? I do want to say, however, that it was very mean spirited that the pass was revoked over the summer.

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