Dáil debates

Thursday, 15 December 2011

5:00 pm

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will commit to undertake a comprehensive study into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children here, similar to the report Let Children Be Children published in Great Britain in June 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40090/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I noted with interest the report Letting Children be Children, which was published in the UK earlier this year. I am also aware of, and indeed share, Irish parents' concerns regarding the increasing sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood.

Since becoming Minister I have repeatedly stressed the need for a cross-community approach to protecting children and preserving the space of childhood. All of society has a responsibility in this regard, including retailers, broadcasters, advertisers and the Internet industry. Indeed, some disturbing information is becoming available about the abuses children can be exposed to via new media. As I have already indicated, I have directed that my Department's new policy framework for children and young people, which is to be published in 2012, should address emerging issues such as the impact of new technologies, media and consumerism on young people.

The UK report acknowledges that while the body of knowledge on topics to do with the sexualisation and commercialisation of children is growing, it is still inconclusive, and that further research, particularly longitudinal research, is required to investigate whether there is evidence of harm to children from these phenomena and how this harm occurs. Many people have an opinion that such harm does occur, but there is a suggestion that further work needs to be done.

My Department recently published the National Strategy for Research and Data on Children's Lives 2011-2016. In the preparation of this strategy, extensive consultation was carried out with a variety of organisations working directly with children, regional and local bodies, representative groups and central Government as well as children and young people themselves. This consultative process identified a small number of references to the issues addressed by the Letting Children be Children report, such as the influence of marketing and media messages on children and sexualisation through clothing.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

My Department is funding a national longitudinal study of children entitled Growing Up in Ireland. The broad base of this study enables the examination of a range of influences and outcomes in children's lives and, while it is not explicitly concerned with issues of commercialisation and sexualisation, it has the capacity to provide data on issues of relevance, such as the extent to which nine year old children have unsupervised access to different forms of media. Findings from the Growing Up in Ireland study and other recent research and consultations are informing the development of my Department's new policy framework for children and young people. In particular, my Department has been engaged in one of the most extensive consultations ever undertaken with children in Ireland. All of these results will inform the priorities set out in the policy framework for children and young people next year.

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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This is an issue that I know the Minister feels strongly about, and she has previously answered parliamentary questions from me about it. What we are talking about is a commercial attack on childhood. Childhood is becoming much shorter, and this is for the purpose of commercial profit. I am aware of the phenomenon of little girls coming to school with pencil cases with Playboy logos on them in a deliberate attempt by certain commercial interests to normalise pornography. The Minister mentioned some of the issues in the Bailey report in the UK, Letting Children be Children, including the inappropriate manner in which various retail outlets were selling children's clothing. What I am hoping is that we will be able to get tough on this and to have strict guidelines for retailers and advertisers. There is money to be made from the shortening of childhood and from encouraging children to have adult attitudes from an earlier stage of their lives. There is money to be made from the music industry - the whole "X-Factor" music industry is particularly directed at children - and from clothing and make-up, so advertising in these industries is being directed at children of younger and younger age groups. Although commercial interests are powerful - money would not be spent on advertising if it were not powerful - we have a responsibility in this House to protect childhood. I appreciate the Minister's response and ask her to indicate the potential legislation in this area.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I accept the points the Deputy makes. It is interesting to note, for example, the contrast between the UK and Ireland in the retail sector. The British retail consortium has already established basic guidelines on responsible retailing of children's wear, which has been signed up to by major retailers including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and TK Maxx, all of which operate in the Irish market.

However, in Ireland there is neither a code of conduct for the retail of children's wear nor even basic guidelines similar to those prepared by the British Retail Consortium. This should be addressed. My Department has had some preliminary discussions with the National Consumer Agency but I expect it will be addressed in the new children's strategy. There will be a public consultation phase for that. We should be examining high level objectives and the type of actions we should take in this country, similar to what has already been undertaken in the UK and what is proposed in the Bailey report.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update in relation to the Health Service Executive audit of child protection practices in church dioceses; the date on which the report will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40299/11]

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which she will publish the results of a State-wide Health Service Executive audit on current child protection practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40380/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 12 together.

The HSE, which has statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, has been conducting a national audit of all Catholic dioceses and religious orders. It expects to be in a position in the spring of 2012 to furnish a report to me on the diocesan element of this audit. The need for follow-up action will be informed by the findings of the national audit. As I said previously, it is my intention to publish the HSE's report. The HSE's national director for children and family services, Mr. Gordon Jeyes, at my request earlier this year, is also engaging directly with the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church on a programme of action designed to ensure that the Catholic Church is responding properly and comprehensively to all child protection concerns.

The roll out of the Children First national guidance will require all sectors and organisations working with children, including the faith sector, to put in place robust safeguarding arrangements to ensure compliance with the guidance. I very much welcome the work undertaken to date by the national board to strengthen child protection practices in the Catholic Church in line with this objective.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's response is both surprising and unsurprising. The reason it is unsurprising is that the Dáil has heard the same response before, and it is also surprising for that reason. It is now December 2011 and the Minister tells us that she expects to receive this report from the HSE in spring 2012. Last December, the then Minister said that he expected to receive this report from the HSE in spring 2011, yet we are getting the same answer again in December 2011.

Last July, when the Minister responded to the Cloyne report, she told us that she expected to receive and publish the HSE audit in September, three months ago. What happened between July and now? What has changed? How can we have faith that this audit will be delivered in the spring? As regards the Minister's previous response about the six reports published on the six dioceses, her position now is to wait for the HSE audit. We could be waiting indefinitely. I disagree with that approach. What happened between July and now to explain this report still not being available?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I already explained, if the previous Ministers had published this report earlier, as they said they would, we would not be in this situation. The reason I am in this position regarding the publication of the report is that a range of changes have been implemented, which were outlined in the dioceses report. To have an up-to-date report from the HSE that is relevant and speaks to the present as opposed to the past, I am informed by the director of children and family services in the HSE that more time is required to get the type of information that will ensure the report is up to date. In addition, from a legal point of view, one does not wish to publish a report that does not reflect the changes made in recent times. In the discussions he is having in the course of carrying out this audit it has become clear to the national director that he needs further time to have a report that reflects current practice, is up to date, reflects the changes that have been made and to ensure that he is reporting accurately on the dioceses with regard to child protection. For those reasons he said he needs extra time. Legally it makes sense to do that because it will be a more accurate report.

I cannot take responsibility for the fact that the previous Government did not publish the report over a five to six year period. What is surprising is that it did not publish it. I must ensure that the report is accurate, up to date and reflects the current situation, in so far as possible. That is why the extra time has been requested and it is reasonable that the time should be given. This has emerged since I first answered the question to which the Deputy referred. This information is new and having received it, it is appropriate to give enough time to ensure we have a comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date report.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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It is a little rich for the Minister to criticise the previous Government for not publishing the report when the Minister is now in the same position.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is five years versus four months.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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In July the Minister was able to say that she expected to publish the report in September, which is two months later.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I did at that time.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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It is now December and the best guideline date the Minister can give is March. This is being put on the long finger and is not being dealt with as quickly as it should be. I would not be surprised to get the same response again in the spring. I urge the Minister to take hold of this issue with the HSE and ensure the report is completed and published as soon as possible.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There is a difference between five years of looking at an audit and not publishing it and four months. That is the contrast and the Deputy's party must take responsibility for that. I have certainly taken hold of this issue. I have had a great deal of discussion about it. I am anxious to ensure that when the report is published it will be up to date and defensible in terms of the data it contains. Due to the delays in publishing it, extra time is needed to ensure that it will be up to date. I want to ensure it is published as soon as possible, and I am informed by the director of national services for children and families that it will be available in the spring.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Never was the line, "Prove him wrong", more strongly invited. That is my appeal. I want the report to be published but, as Deputy McConalogue said, let us not have a repetition of this. The Minister must do everything she can to ensure the publication of the audit in the spring.

When does the Minister expect the Children First guidelines to be put on a statutory basis? What plans does she have for implementing the range of outstanding recommendations in the Ryan report that have still not been implemented? Does she have a plan in place, and is it being worked on proactively? What is the current position with that report?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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A great deal of work has been done on the Children First legislation. I said previously that the heads of the Bill would be referred to the Oireachtas committee in the next Dáil term. I will do that because it is important to get a response. As the Deputy would expect, it is proving to be complex legislation, but much progress has been made. I will be submitting a further memorandum to the Government on it this week. It will be before the committee in the next session, and I hope the heads of the Bill will be prepared in the near future.

What was the Deputy's other question?

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I asked about the Ryan report.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am very pleased that by the end of this year the 60 additional social workers, to which I referred during the last priority questions when some doubt was being cast on the recruitment, will be in place. There is another question about the matter which we may not get to. They will have been recruited and some will have started work. They will start working in December and January. That is one of the key recommendations of the Ryan report and I am very pleased to have been able to deliver 60 extra social workers. They were not affected by the pause in the HSE or the embargo in place.