Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to deal with the motion. I thank my colleagues, Senators Clonan and McDowell, for teeing up and leading off on what we think is a constructive motion. It was never our intention to create division but, rather, to share our lived experiences. That is key in all of this.

I only have one ask of the Minister of State and I wish to stay specific in that regard because this is a broad topic. My ask relates specifically to homelessness in Dublin. Yesterday was budget day. Yesterday evening, however, I decided to walk the streets of Dublin and meet at first-hand representatives of many of the wonderful agencies - they are not State agencies, although they receive State funding - and see the work they do. I took two trips: one last night and another very early this morning. What did I see? I met people of different traditions, cultures and economic backgrounds who were waiting in long queues for food support. They were not all homeless. There were people who were in bedsits and accommodation who, unfortunately, do not have much money to feed themselves. I met people dishing out cold pizza - several of the stations do not have the facilities to provide it hot. I do not wish to identify the specific parts of Dublin I visited as doing so would not be helpful. On streets off O'Connell Street, I met children. I spoke to a woman from the Roma community who shared her experiences of domestic violence. She had two children with her and thought it was easier to go out and look through bins on the streets.She described how a kind pizza company leaves pizzas in a box and she knows where to go, as do many other people in her community who live in the heart of Dublin. I spoke to three Ukrainians and all they were looking for was water. They were in supported accommodation here in Dublin. Two were men and one was a woman. What really disturbed me was the number of children - teenagers. I keep two books on my desk since coming to the Seanad. One is the Constitution of Ireland and the other is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is a really important book that everyone should have on their desk.

I went back this morning and met some more people. By arrangement, I was told to go to McDonald's on Grafton Street where there was a kind person who brought people in to offer them a free €3.03 breakfast burger. It actually happened this morning because I met them. I made the trip there this morning and had one of the burgers. What an amazing organisation it is that does this outreach, and it is not a State agency either. There were a variety of people and circumstances there.

On my way back, I came through these parts, around Molesworth Street and Grafton Street. I counted 16 people, more than half of whom were below 18 years of age. Three were huddled together at St. Anne's Church on Dawson Street, two were in half a tent that had blown down on South Frederick Street. It was really shocking.

What are we saying? These people are someone's son, daughter, brother, sister or child. They all have some connection. These are vulnerable young people, particularly the ones I engaged with. They are exposed to exploitation, prostitution, criminals, and opportunistic people wanting to take advantage of them and of the circumstances they are in.

What are we doing about it? My request is we focus on Dublin in particular. There are many issues but I want to speak about the challenges facing our city. In the streets and lanes around our Parliament are young people who are left exposed to all sorts of issues, who are vulnerable, and who need our support. When I say a responsive and a holistic approach, I mean a targeted approach within days where State agencies see how they can focus specifically and reach out to these people, overtly or covertly, by engaging with An Garda Síochána, the HSE and other services. I have given a commitment that I will continue to link in daily with these agencies for the next ten days. I would like to think our emergency agencies would be out responding.

I will finish on the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, to which Ireland is a signatory and under which we have given certain guarantees. Children have the right to be treated equally; the right to have their best interests considered by the people making decisions about them; the right to information; the right to be protected from harm; the right to be with their family or those who can care for them best; the right to be safe from harm and neglect; the right to healthcare, nutritious food and clothing; the right to housing; the right to education; the right to rest; importantly, the right to play; and the right to be treated fairly by a just system. I will finish on that. My appeal to the Minister of State specifically on this issue is that we respond immediately and reach out to young people. When I say young people, they are all below the age of 18. They need our help and our support. I ask the Minister of State to use his influence and good offices to keep the focus on this matter.