Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Much has been said about the Roscommon abuse case. I am truly appalled by the lack of care for children in difficulty in this State. What is the point of the lessons of the past 20 years, to which Senator Bacik referred, if no one is held accountable for this horrid abuse and neglect? Is this just today's news? Is this just today's story? What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Murphy and Ryan reports? I do not have confidence that anything is changing. Let us mean what we say. If this House did nothing else but ensured a date was set by the end of this year for the holding of the children's rights referendum and that there was accountability in terms of neglect of the voiceless and timid in our society, we could be proud of having achieved something. However, I am not convinced that anything is changing.

Last week I raised the issue of the hundreds of young unemployed teachers in this State. A total of 400 graduated from St. Patrick's College this year but only 30 are employed. The issue I want to raise, however, is that of probation. A teacher used to spend five years in probation here but that has been cut to three. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, last night and it is clear she does not have a notion what I am on about. She said there was a shortage of inspectors but if that is the case the probation period should be lengthened. Young teachers are telling me they can emigrate but they cannot emigrate if they are not probated because they cannot come back and get a post here.