Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I refer to the issue of child protection which a number of other Senators have raised. I note that a debate on carers will be held after the Order of Business, which is to be welcomed. However, I regard this as separate from the issue of child protection. While I have no doubt child protection issues will be raised during the debate, we need a separate debate on child protection because I agree with Senators on the opposite side of the House that it is absolutely clear there is a deficit in that regard. We are calling for a referendum on children to be held later this year or early next year and I ask the House to note that the outcome of the referendum will make it easier, rather than more difficult, for the State to take children into care. What we need to do is ensure, after the referendum is held and once we have the legislation to back up the result, the children of this country will be properly protected by the institutions of the State. Following the Ryan and various other reports, it is time we put child care and child protection at the top of our agenda, not the various financial issues that we discuss so strongly in the House. More than anything else, child protection is at the core of our society. It is very important, therefore, that we hold a debate on the issue.