THREAD
We have a solid evidence base on how we failed vulnerable children with 19 official reports. In 1996, Kilkenny Incest Inquiry examined how the State failed to intervene in a case where a child was abused and neglected over a long period by her family. #TheDCYAMustStay
We have a solid evidence base on how we failed vulnerable children with 19 official reports. In 1996, Kilkenny Incest Inquiry examined how the State failed to intervene in a case where a child was abused and neglected over a long period by her family. #TheDCYAMustStay
However, the report which impacted on the political landscape was the Report of the Ryan Commission which ran for nine years and was published in 2009 documenting what happened to children and young people in industrial institutions from 1936-2000. #TheDCYAMustStay
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was many years in the making. In December 2005, the then Minister, of State for Children, Brian Lenihan, @fiannafailparty was promoted to 'super junior' and worked across three Government Departments. #TheDCYAMustStay
In March 2011, then Taoiseach @EndaKennyTD, appointed @FitzgeraldFrncs as the first Minister for Children, elevating the position to a full ministry. The Department of Children was established. #TheDCYAMustStay
I believe my appointment to the Seanad in May 2011, was part of this atonement for our past and in ensuring better outcomes for all children in Ireland. When @EndaKennyTD phoned me, he specifically asked me to use my voice for children #TheDCYAMustStay
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was established on 2 June 2011. It 'lifted' children & youth affairs from a wide range of Government Departments. In 2014 it published the first overarching national policy framework for children and young people #BOBF #TheDCYAMustStay
July 2011, @EndaKennyTD gave a historic speech in the Dail on the Cloyne report. The all-party motion "deplores the Vatican's intervention which contributed to the undermining of child protection frameworks & guidelines of the Irish state and the Irish bishops". #TheDCYAMustStay
In November 2012, the people of Ireland voted to enshrine the protection of children as individual rights holders into the Irish Constitution. The result was challenged. This challenge was defeated when it went to the Supreme Court. #TheDCYAMustStay
In 2012-13, we debated and agreed the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, @tusla which came into official being on 1 January 2014. We had to extract children & family supports from the HSE to ensure we had a dedicated service for children and families. #TheDCYAMustStay
Establishment of @DCYAPress was symbolic. I strongly believe it has the potential to ensure Better Outcomes and Brighter Futures for children and young people in Ireland. If it is abolished, it will make a lie of our promises not to fail children yet again. #TheDCYAMustStay #end
