Enda Kenny (right) with Children’s Minister James Reilly
“Children First is no longer a national aspiration but a constitutional reality with the enactment of this legislation.
Within decades of our children being demonised, brutalised, criminalised for their audacity to be poor, different, abandoned, orphaned, troubled or just plain neglected, with Children First they are recognised and constitutionally protected as citizens of the Republic in their own right.
For this government, it was and remains a first but important step in imagining and creating an Ireland where the idea and experience of childhood are recognised, respected and protected.
As a country, we have a lot to be ashamed of. A lot to be sorry for. It remains in our psyche as a nation.
When we came to government in 2011, I was determined to undo some of that wrong to our children and other fragile members of our society
….But Children First is not a political amulet we hang around Ireland’s neck to protect us from the misdeeds of past generations.
Rather I believe it is truly ‘re-forming’ legislation, that recognises our children, and protects their position under the Constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann, itself.
It establishes them as individuals with their own separate rights their own discrete needs of respect, dignity and protection.”
Part of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s speech to the Dáil today bringing the Children First Bill into law.
Alternatively…
@KidsNeedAHome writes:
Somewhat risible when countered against the number of children who are homeless in Dublin and around the country.
(RollingNews)
Only the folks of castlebar can vote this man out in the next election and not the general population. We have every faith you castlebarians. Do it for the greater good and not the unfixed pothole beside the parish pump on the crossroads where you remove your shoes before walking into town.
+2016
Is Castlebar its own constituency noe?.
Clearly been a while since you were outside of your own little bubble. You’ve never been to Castlebar either I would expect.
If we offer up money and pay everyone in Castlebar to vote against him, we could get him out?
#hometovote
Enda could be photographed in bed with 2 of the most beautiful women you’ve ever seen and still look a right tool
If they were serious about putting children first they would not be building the new children hospital in the grounds of St James!
Plus I think it’s a bit late for his concern around.
A. children
B. The homeless.
C. The rest of the population
And when Jesus walked on the water the Irishman on shore said “Typical. He can’t even swim.”
+1
Any excuse to ignore a positive development and get a dig in.
…says someone oin NYC?
+1. Do nothing decent for anyone, ever. You get slagged off either way.
Apropos of nothing, Children First sounds like a sexual preference held by selected PIRA/Sinn Féín members – ooer.
That man only has one care, and that’s for his own and his cronies enrichment.
Sort of like every one else in their little club in Kildare St.
Talk is certainly very cheap in that part of the world.
extremely cheap .. he just says things .. nothing has any solid base, he never does anything about what he says, hes just all sound bites and catch phrases. absolute empty vessel.
I believe children are the future .treat them well and let them lead them way.
cant ever take anything he says as being earnest.
“When we came to government in 2011, I was determined to undo some of that wrong to our children and other fragile members of our society” .. 2011 … 2 0 1 1 .. four years ago. yea, REAL determined. so determined that hes done nothing about over FOUR YEARS. ironically, the fragile members of society have actually gotten hockeyed in that four year period.