14 January 2016
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Speaking today on the UN Committee on the Rights of a Child in Geneva, where Ireland’s record on children’s rights was criticised, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Sandra McLellan TD (Youghal) said:
“With nearly 6,000 child protection cases awaiting assignment to social workers in Ireland, it comes as no surprise that some of the members of the Committee on the Right of a Child today were highly critical on Ireland’s record regarding children.
“The Committee also highlighted issues such child homelessness, numbers which are at roughly 1,500 at present. They were critical about the government’s attempt to address the issue of one in nine children in the state living in consistent poverty.
“The marginalisation of the Travelling community, Roma children and those children in direct provision also came under the microscope, with an analysis that did not bode kindly for this government.
“The government need to do far more in attempting to protect our future generations. We in Sinn Féin acknowledge the need to protect and cherish all of our children, as equals, in a way that makes for a more egalitarian society for forthcoming years. We hope the people will give us that mandate in the upcoming election.”
