Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that and will conclude. I do not fully understand what the Minister of State means. An urgent meeting between the Independent Senators and the Minister should be held to address this issue. If we support Senator Mary Ann O'Brien in ensuring that the meeting is held in October at least, will she consider not pushing the matter to a vote? If she ever needed to retable the proposal as it is or in another guise, she would have my support in a vote. I am making a difficult request, as the Senator knows what is at stake. We are lucky to have parents who want to take care of their children at home. Some 1,500 children are in foster homes and institutional care. Their parents have neglected them. In some cases, their parents abused them. This is one of the key issues in the children's referendum. This debate is concerned with what type of nation we are.

Perhaps I have said enough. I had not planned to contribute or submitted my name for time. The issue challenges us on our value system.