Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I echo the many tributes paid to Senator van Turnhout in the context of her tabling of this motion. When she e-mailed Senators last week, I replied immediately because this is a matter about which I, as a parent, feel strongly. I have found it purely sickening to listen to some aspects of this debate, particularly in the context of children being exploited. We often discuss child abuse and unfit parents. In my view, those who subject their children to pageants such as that held last September are guilty of child abuse. They are taking away the childhood innocence of their offspring.

The motion states that childhood is a time-specific and unique period in a person's development and that there is a distinct space between it and adulthood. That issue lies at the heart of the motion. There is a veritable laundry list of events and occurrences which can tarnish or ruin a person's childhood. Senator Mooney made a very valid point, namely, that it is the duty of parents - first and foremost - to look after their children.

I refer to the iconic figure of Katie Taylor. My memory still allows me to go back many years to when I was young. We could not wait to get on the hurling field or the Gaelic football field. In many ways we learned so much from playing sport. It was healthy physical exercise but it also promoted mental well-being and taught us teamwork and how to interact with our peers. It gave us values and experiences to last all our lives and which served us very well.

Parents face challenges, as has been said by previous speakers. Senator Mary Ann O'Brien and Senator Mary Moran specifically emphasised this point. It is shocking to see the material on the Internet to which children are exposed. I read an appalling story yesterday of a 12 year-old boy who raped his seven year-old sister following his viewing of pornography in the company of some of his friends. I think this happened in the United States. That is an appalling situation and it shows that we need to get to grips with the Internet. While it is a medium for great good, it is deficient in many ways.

Pageants are not the only issues that need to be examined with regard to the sexualisation of children. Like many people I followed the controversy surrounding Federal Law No. 135-FZ introduced in Russia. It was designed to protect young people from any form of sexualisation. Stephen Fry took control of it and it was used very strongly against Russia. I have read the Russian Act. All it does is to build on an existing law in order to protect children against any form of exploitation or anything that would affect them. I can provide more information on the topic to anyone interested.

I am pleased this motion has cross-party support. I suggest that the House should table a cross-party motion on what I consider to be most demeaning of the status of women - gendercide. It is practised in many countries. It has happened in Britain and in the United States. Nothing abrogates the campaign for women's equality more than gendercide. This may be a challenging view for those who regard themselves as liberals but it is a fundamental issue. If we are genuinely serious about such issues, this House has a good role to play in tabling a motion to which all sides of the House could subscribe.