Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like everyone else I was stunned to hear of the child abuse prevalent in some child care facilities in the country and it is not acceptable at all. I have been a mother who entrusted her children to child care facilities. It is obviously not the case everywhere. In condemning the abusive practices that "Prime Time Investigates" revealed we should be careful not to condemn all facilities. I know some facilities and one's own home would not be run as well as them. I know some facilities that are inspected frequently and those responsible are never notified of an inspection. Clearly what is coming out in the debate is that the practice is not consistent or standardised across the country. Above all, as some people have said in the Seanad today, it comes down to the integrity and character of the person in charge and the person minding the children. No matter how good our inspections, if the person in question is not properly background-checked and if she is not meeting the standards, there will be problems. No inspection regime can be in there every day.

I am calling on the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to do two things. She must ensure that the people who have been found to be abusive are tried. That is an example of the standard that we want at a minimum for our children. I want to hear her address the issues raised today, including the issues that Senator Wilson raised relating to minimum qualification.

There is a major issue around pay.

While pay is an issue, corners will be cut. We are in grave danger today of painting everyone with the same brush. That is not fair or true. I look forward to a very open and inclusive debate on this topic.