Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It beggars belief when one thinks of abuse in one's own home from parents or other family members, or from trusted or well-known people. We are told the figure is in excess of 90%. It endorses what I said before. This is indeed a major issue which we must all try to address. It is a significant challenge to each of us. The Rape Crisis Network Ireland report shows that a child under 13 is most likely to be targeted for abuse by a family member rather than an acquaintance. It is an utter disgrace that a child under 13 would be targeted in holy Catholic Ireland, and it is a major challenge to deal with that. All too easily we talk about stranger danger when, in reality, a child is far more likely to be abused by a relative or someone trusted by the family. As I have already remarked, we have a major challenge.

My grievous concern is children suffering in silence and fear, afraid to tell their brothers, sisters, mothers or fathers. I would know to look at some of them, although I am not a judge. They are out there, reluctant to report abuse. The stage comes when they can leave their home and emigrate to some foreign city in the United States, Great Britain or wherever to get away from it all. It is sad to say they are glad to be able to leave. They are fearful to report because of the risk involved. I do not know if it is quite the same, but I know one young teenager who took her own life and left a note as to why she did it. She was being abused by her father. It is tragic. Even where it is a family member who is responsible, there must be no hiding place from the law. We all have an obligation, a duty and a part to play, whether we are teachers, politicians or ordinary people.

I commend the Minister on this long-awaited Bill and on fulfilling the promise of the Government. The protection of children and putting children first was part of the Government's agenda. As the Minister said himself, "this important child-centred Bill ... endeavours to improve the care and protection of children in the State and will, for the first time, put key elements of the Children First guidance on a statutory footing". I commend the Bill to the House and congratulate the Minister and his staff.