SEANAD REPORT:THE CHILDREN'S protection referendum could engender the same degree of distorted argumentation as that exhibited during the Mother and Child scheme controversy 60 years ago, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn warned.
The Government had taken upon itself the responsibility of introducing an amendment to the Constitution. There could be no doubt as to how difficult things would become once the debate got under way.
“Because to assert the rights of children in that minority of cases – and Roscommon comes to mind – means we will, in effect, be enabling agents of the State to take away powers currently enjoyed by parents,” he said. “This will be portrayed, perhaps by some voices in this House itself, as an attack on the institution of the family. So don’t be prepared for a bed of roses in relation to this debate when it becomes real.”
Some of the reasonable voices articulating concern at present would march to a different tune later, he suspected. “I hope I am wrong, but I am under no illusion about what will happen.”
One had only to think back to the Mother and Child scheme to see just how raucous voices could become and how reasonable arguments could be distorted, he added.
The Minister was speaking on the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill, which was passed.
David Norris (Ind) said that in the Roscommon incest case claims were made that the family was being threatened by measures that would actually protect children. “If that happens again I will certainly be supporting the Minister.”
Jillian van Turnhout (Ind) said she had been privileged to meet survivors of abuse suffered when they were in institutions. “One thing that many of them said to me, and gave me huge strength particularly in my previous role in Children’s Rights Alliance, was that they believed that a true monument to their abuse would be to strengthen children’s rights in the Irish Constitution.”
The reporting style engaged in by various journalists was corrosive of politics and must change, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan said. As a member of the Dáil since 1987, he had noted a change from reporting what actually happened to the giving of personal views by journalists. The politics of perception rather than the politics of truth was being engaged in. A reporting style involving guilt by association was very depressing and was corrosive of democracy.
Mr Hogan was acknowledging the passing of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill which curbs the scope for political donations and ties State funding of parties to requirements on selecting women candidates.
Aideen Hayden (Lab) said the Minister would be remembered for this legislation long after septic tanks had been forgotten.
Paschal Mooney (FF) earlier asked would the Minister agree there was an obligation on opinion formers to give an accurate view of what went on in the Oireachtas.