The Government and the Minister for Children have failed to prepare the legislation necessary to allow for the use of soft information to ensure the protection of children at risk.

Speaking today, following the publication of the Government’s Spring Legislative Programme, Alan Shatter TD, Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesperson on Children said: Continue reading »

HSE called on to give public assurance about current practice

The shocking and disturbing revelations of neglect and physical and sexual abuse tragically suffered by six children in Roscommon and the scandalous failure of the Western Health Board to effectively intervene at an early stage, once more reveal the gross inadequacies and dysfunctional nature of our child protection services, according to Fine Gael Children Spokesperson, Alan Shatter TD. Continue reading »

Minister must appoint independent Commission of Investigation

Responding to the HSE statement that a senior HSE manager has been appointed to review the circumstances surrounding the Roscommon childcare case, the Fine Gael Spokesman on Children, Alan Shatter TD, said:  “There is no value to the HSE now commencing an internal review or investigation of the manner in which the Western Health Board dealt with the tragic case of the six Roscommon children. Continue reading »

As we view our broken economy and bury the remains of the Celtic Tiger we should thank God that we are part of the European Union. If we were not, we would today, as a State, be beating the door down pleading to get in. If we were not, the European Commission and member States might make demands concerning our growing national debt, our escalating current budget deficit and our ruined economy that we could not meet for many years and which would ensure that the door we wished to open would remain closed to us for a long time. Continue reading »

I may be a politician but I am first and foremost a human being. The death and maiming of innocent children appalls me. The lives of all children are precious and of equal value, whether Palestinian or Israeli and there has been too much suffering on both sides.

 “You are speaking from the position of a politician but ordinary people would have hearts of stone if they were not moved by the pictures of dead children” asserted Pat Kenny on the phone. Continue reading »

Letter to Irish Times

Madam,

The 41 Oireachtas members who were signatories to the letter published in Friday’s Irish Times are right to support the creation of a secure and independent Palestine living alongside a secure and independent Israel. No other long-term solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict is feasible. However, no such solution can be achieved whilst Palestinian fundamentalist groups such as Hamas are opposed to any such arrangement and resolutely committed to the total destruction of the Israeli state. Continue reading »

Ombudsman probe cannot be excuse for Govt to continue shameful inaction on child protection

Responding to the announcement of an investigation by the Ombudsman for Children into the handling of the Child Protection Audit of Catholic Church Diocese, Fine Gael Children Spokesperson, Alan Shatter TD said,  Continue reading »