Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Almost 12 months ago we had the referendum on children's rights. It was held on 10 November 2012. On that day, following a campaign in which virtually every political party supported the referendum, 42% of the people said "No." We must concede that if the referendum had taken place in the aftermath of what we have seen over the past fortnight, it would have been decisively rejected. Irish people always attempt to strike a balance and they are deeply concerned, and always have been, about children and about families. The questions now being posed by many are about the level of that balance. I look forward to the publication of future reports and perhaps a debate on them, but I ask that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs come to the House to debate all of these events. I appreciate the roles of the HSE and Minister for Justice and Equality, but there is a Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and we need to hear from her in this House on these general matters. Every citizen of this country wants to ensure that every child is fully protected, but we do not want a Big Brother state. There was a degree of concern about that during the referendum last year and, as I say with reasonably certainty, if the events of the past fortnight had happened 12 months ago, the referendum would have been decisively defeated. In order to get a better feeling about where policy and thinking are now, almost 12 months after the referendum's passage, I would like the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come to the House to debate all of these issues, answer our questions and give reassurances that the State will not become Big Brother, that it is a place of safety and security for children and rights and responsibilities for families, and that the balance is appropriate, fair and in order.