Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too wish to compliment the Social Democrats on tabling the motion. As the Minister stated, we all know how important children are and how vital it is that they are protected. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. As the adage goes, praise the young and they will come on in leaps and bounds. Surveys carried out by Family Carers Ireland indicate that many children are family carers. This issue involves significant amounts of money. Imagine teenagers or younger children caring for sick people because the Government will not step in and does not have proper care systems in place. Imagine the damage that is doing to those children. They are being denied their right to take part in sport, the arts, creative work or whatever else they wish to do. Some of them are even being denied their right to attend second level education. In my opinion, that is noting short of child abuse.

We need to deal with this issue. The motion is fine but there should be no more talk. What is going to be done? Will these children be looked after properly? The House has passed legislation dealing with children. There was a children's referendum. It involved very pious platitudes, but what came out of it? Tusla is going around doing investigations and, in many cases, intervening and taking children from homes. It is a shocking indictment of the State that in 2020 and even before Covid there are no proper supports or respect for na daoine óige. Young people are our future. They are our brightest and best and will go on to fulfil their promise if they get the proper opportunities. There should be equal opportunity. There is much talk in this House about equality. Much of it is tokenism. Where is the equality for the many children who are in poverty or being encouraged to act as drug mules and money mules and other things like that? That was addressed last week in the House. The opportunity for such children to be exploited in that way is there because the legislation is not strong enough. Do we care enough about children? We should care more about them. They certainly should not be expected to have to be the carer for a grandparent, parent or sibling. The State should employ the necessary staff to work as carers. I support the motion.

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