Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If you listen you might understand what it is all about. We tabled an amendment that was ruled out of order but it was a serious amendment on children and direct provision. We had a debate in the House in recent weeks on direct provision in which Senators from all parties agreed that the direct provision system should be reformed. The Minister is not yet of the same mind but there is a cohort of children in direct provision who are not eligible for children's allowance. There are only about 1,500 of them. We have had a children's referendum recognising the rights of children across the State but these children are left out of that scenario.

I plead with the Minister to review the matter. I appreciate that it is a legal situation between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice and Equality. If we really believe that each child in the country is equal then these children should be included in the children's allowance provision. I call on the Minister to examine the matter even at this late state. If the provision cannot be included in the Bill then I ask her to do so moving forward. I am being genuine.