Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)

What does it say about our State that it cannot ensure every child has an equal, just, flourishing and fun childhood? What does it say about our Government that it refuses to ensure every child has a bed to call their own? What does it say about our Cabinet that it is doubling down on its so-called attention to the issue of child poverty, rather than facing up to the facts before our eyes? Ireland is fast becoming a worse place to grow up for too many children. When I was preparing for this debate, I wondered if any of us would be here if the children who have been plunged into poverty had been the people who voted in last year's general election. I doubt it, because for the nearly 250,000 children who are experiencing poverty right now, my words and the Minister’s words, respectfully, mean nothing. For the thousands of children who woke up in emergency accommodation this morning, the Minister’s sentiments and my thoughts mean nothing. For the tens of thousands of children who are languishing on waiting lists for medical care, childcare, disability assessment, child or adolescent mental health services, speech and language therapy or physical or occupational therapy, the Government’s track record and even weaker commitments mean nothing. It now has the audacity to seek to amend a motion that states facts. Last week, it allowed a motion from another Opposition group, calling for curfews on children and young people, for a mini-CAB to confiscate PlayStations and Xboxes and for fines for parents, to go through the House. It did not amend that motion but it is amending this one. That is shameful.

I am not here a long time, but I have learned that we cannot expect the people who caused a generational failure with regards to policy to try to fix it. What does it say about Ireland that children and families must fight, appeal, persevere, go public and fight again simply to navigate a system that seems hell-bent on keeping them out? That tells me that our State has given up on children, young people and their families.

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