Mary White (Fianna Fail)

Fianna Fáil should also be commended for the accentuation in society of the emphasis on children's affairs.

We are considering the results of another institutional innovation, namely, the appointment of a special rapporteur on child protection, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, whose fourth report is before the Seanad today. He has done signal service in his various assignments on behalf of children and the country is fortunate to have someone of his expertise and credibility engaged on the issues of child protection.

I wish to focus on a few of the many issues dealt with in the report. First, it points out that the HSE is charged with the task of tackling youth homelessness. However, the issue of youth homelessness has never been comprehensively addressed either by the HSE or society. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames has referred to the current economic decline and the fact that the report states the level of homelessness is again on the rise. Of particular concern is the level of homelessness among children. A young person who is homeless is highly vulnerable to alcohol and drug abuse, poor health and many other social and criminal traps.

I strongly support the recommendation concerning the need for local authorities and the HSE to tackle homelessness through the provision of social housing. At least, if homeless young people or their homeless family had a roof over their heads which they could call their own, they would have an important source of stability in their lives. Surely, with all the ghosts estates in every community in the country, we can provide access for homeless children and their families to this accommodation. The report suggests the number of homeless children is less than 500; therefore, meeting the housing challenge is doable, given the necessary political will. At the end of the day, it comes down to political will and the courage of the Minister to take innovative initiatives.

My second point - I have called for this repeatedly - concerns the provision of a 24-hour out of hours social service. I acknowledge that the Minister made this point in her contribution. However, I am not talking about a 24-hour social service delivered in a fragmented way in various parts of the country but a nationwide 24-hour service. The Department continues to highlight the service it provides in parts of Dublin and other places, but that is a failure. The need for such a service recurs in so many of our acute social services such as suicide prevention, an issue in which I have, as the Minister knows, a special interest. As Senator Rónán Mullen said, there are issues that can be dealt with and I believe the Croke Park agreement provides the flexibility to deliver this service. The former Minister for Health and Children repeatedly made the point that the service could not be delivered because of issues to do with industrial relations, but with the Croke Park agreement we now have a facility to provide a 24-hour social service. I urge the Minister to do this.

While the report calls for the discontinuance of Garda stations being used to provide an out-of-hours service, it is a fact that the Garda is left by default to deal with the acute cases the HSE and the social work profession have chosen to ignore. I commend gardaí for the work they do every night and weekend across the country in responding to acute social issues, while the official services which are charged with official responsibility have chosen to wash their hands of it.

I wish to comment on the extreme abuse of vulnerable children in child trafficking. It appears that the main purpose of the trafficking of children is their sexual exploitation. This is an international and world issue. The report refers to a draft European directive on "preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting victims". I encourage the Minister and the members of my own party through its MEPs to actively support the passing of the directive and its incorporation in Irish law without delay.