Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Minister and thank her for attending the House. I thank Senator van Turnhout for having the foresight to ensure the debate took place today.

I was shocked and horrified by the events I witnessed on the television programme. Certain crèches were highlighted. I watched it with a particular interest because my son was in respite care that night and my initial reaction was to think of my own child and of the facilities in which he was being cared. This issue is about vulnerable children who cannot speak up for themselves. I welcome that the Minister was straight up and came forward to address it. I also welcome her statement that she will publish the inspection reports. Reports were made on one of the crèches featured in the programme a month previously but six years ago we had this debate. It is not good enough to just publish reports; they must be followed up and double checked. I worked as a teacher when whole-school inspections were introduced. The school received two weeks' notice and everything was cleaned up and written up to ensure everything was right for the inspection. It is important that checks should be strenuously carried out and that we do not find out six years later that recommendations were not implemented. An example should be made of the people who were caught on camera and they should be brought to justice because our children are our most precious commodity.

The issue of qualifications was highlighted in the programme. Most people have a FETAC level 5 qualification but that must be a requirement across the board.

We must examine strenuously qualifications, background checks and Garda vetting. Pay should be appropriate to qualifications because, as has been pointed out, people are frequently working for pay just above the minimum wage. If there is no value attached to the child care or the worker providing the service, we must address this and ensure staff are paid appropriately so crèches will not just be for profit. Let us face it - most of them have operated for profit.

County Louth is one of the counties that has not been included. Have supports been put in place for the parents and children featured in the programme some nights ago? If one of my children were involved, I would want such supports.