Andrews lacks political muscle, claims FG

FINE GAEL has accused Children’s Minister Barry Andrews of lacking the political muscle to protect the vulnerable and those in the care of the state.

The party’s children’s spokesman, Alan Shatter, said for too long, reports into children’s deaths, promised by Mr Andrews, have not been published.

Recommendations made after various tragedies have not led to the necessary changes in how children are cared for, he said.

“We have a Minister for Children who lacks the authority and statutory power to insure whatever policy he wants to implement is implemented.”

Mr Shatter said the state had “paid lip service to child protection”.

“There is a credibility problem between what the minister says and what actually happens on the ground.”

And Mr Shatter defended his party’s decision to publish the report into the death of Tracey Fay, rejecting Mr Andrews’ accusation that it will hinder the prospects of future inquiries.

During the Dáil session on the report into the death of Ms Fay, Mr Andrews and Health Minister Mary Harney, who sat silently on his right, faced a barrage of criticism.

Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd said the details produced by Mr Andrews, on children who died in care, was not complete. The HSE had to account for the children of young mothers who were in contact with social workers.

Mr O’Dowd said he has so far failed to establish the HSE’s response to a case he was personally aware of. This involved a baby who died after its mother, who was also a child in care, became homeless.

Health spokeswoman for Labour, Jan O’Sullivan TD, said the minister had still not explained the circumstances in which 23 unidentified children died.

Ms O’Sullivan called for the recommendations of all previous reports and reviews to be compiled and published soon. “You need to shed a whole lot more light on these areas.”

Sinn Féin leader Caoimhghín O Caoláin said the Government and HSE could not claim to have acted on this issue when they have ignored persistent questions on the subject. Since the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report of 1990, the state has known its services for children in care was inadequate and badly managed, he added.