Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Tánaiste knows, the Children’s Rights Alliance is a broad amalgamation of organisations and bodies which are interested in the welfare of children. It has looked at all the issues that face children in this State and asked for just five focused aims to be achieved. I am asking the Tánaiste if we can just address these five items as a priority in this House? Can we set ourselves the target of doing these five things for children? I grant that some of them are easier than others. Access to the arts is very important and the passport for the arts for children who, in many instances, can never avail of the arts and which is in place in other European countries can be emulated here. That is not a big ask. There are more difficult matters, including ensuring that every child has affordable and quality housing. That is a bigger ask. If we set ourselves the task of addressing all of these issues, we could do so. It would be a fitting memorial to ensuring that, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our first free Parliament, we do so representing the values of those who sat here 100 years ago. Will the Tánaiste agree to commit the Government to look at these five issues and to see, on a cross-party basis, how far we can advance them all before the end of this year?

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