Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to extend a welcome to those from Galway in the Visitors' Gallery, who are campaigners on behalf of people with disabilities. They are welcome to Leinster House and it is good to see them here.

I concur with Senators who have spoken about the "Prime Time" programme. It is a great example of public service broadcasting by RTE. We should commend it for raising issues of such serious concern. I am a former chair of Galway city and county child care committee and director of a community child care facility in Connemara. I was appalled by the programme, which highlighted breaches of regulations. Some 75% of crèches have inadequate staff numbers and records. There was an over-emphasis on business interests, and the current regulations and HSE inspection regimes are totally inadequate. These problems did not start today or yesterday; they are historic. There has always been light-touch regulation from the HSE in this area because such sectors are grossly understaffed. I remind Senators that the same happened under the previous regime as well as this one. When cutbacks to health services are introduced, this is the kind of result one gets. It is about time we got real about this issue. It is time the Minister came to the House. I wholeheartedly support Senator van Turnhout's call for an immediate debate on this issue. It is a hugely important and distressing issue for parents. I also recognise the many health care and child care workers who do a fantastic job every day and earn very little money. They mainly do such jobs because they love them, and they have to be praised. This matter must be taken very seriously. What we saw last night was very close to abuse and we need a wholehearted and serious debate on the issue immediately.