Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support anything that will put in place a mechanism to ensure the investment and remote direction of any moneys belonging to a ward of court or given to a ward of court, awarded following instances of negligence that appallingly are all too often reported in the news. The idea that a person is given an award and that would be dissipated or lost, as has happened and as we have seen reported, is outrageous and appalling. There is a small cohort of people who deserve a mechanism to reimburse them for the money that was recklessly lost, leaving them with elderly parents trying to cover where they should have financial support. I have spoken on this previously. The Justice for Wards group represents the people whose money has been lost and who have been left without protections by the State or any redress. I support putting in place transparency, accountability or insurance, whatever we call it. It is essential that we do it. I take the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Justice for Wards group, which needs to be engaged with. The State needs to do something about the horrific position in which these people find themselves through no fault of their own.