Seanad debates

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

2:45 pm

Photo of Jillian van TurnhoutJillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would also like to welcome the opportunity we will have tomorrow to debate Irish Water. I acknowledge in particular the role of my colleague, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, who called strongly for such a debate.

As the Leader and the other Members of the House will be aware, an ISPCC Childline coffee morning fund-raiser was held in Leinster House last month. I thank everybody who contributed towards the €860 we raised, which will go to Childline. For the first time ever, Childline sadly had to issue an emergency appeal recently to look for funds to ensure it will not have to cut its night service. Childline answers approximately 1,800 calls a day. Some 11% of them are answered during the night. Those who were present at the coffee morning will have heard from one of Childline's volunteers about the type of listening service that is provided, for example when a silent call is received from a child who is cowering under the bed, afraid that his or her abuser will hear the call being made. It is wrong for any call to go unanswered. Most of the funding received by Childline comes from the generosity of the public. This House played a critical role when it came together to agree an all-party motion on the missing children hotline. I ask Senators to do whatever they can to encourage people to raise funds for Childline and the many other amazing charities in this country. They have had a very severe blow this year. We need to pick up confidence. As Senators, we need to show leadership by having confidence in the invaluable work that the charity sector does. I am particularly highlighting the important role being played by the Childline listening service.

I will conclude by calling on the Leader to ask the Ministers, Deputies Fitzgerald and Reilly, to explain why the Irish Youth Justice Service has not published an annual report since 2010. I would be interested to know why this has not happened. Perhaps they can also explain the delay in publication of the Garda youth diversion project report for 2013. We will have a debate on penal reform tomorrow. I would like to know where these reports are. It is significant that there has been no report from the Irish Youth Justice Service since 2010.

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