Protecting children from the State

Just about one year ago, the people of Ireland were asked to give more power to the Oireachtas to investigate “matters deemed to be of public importance”.

Much as Irish people want to nail politicians who abuse the system of expenses and allowance payments they wisely, I believe, chose to reject the amendment. Giving judge and jury powers to the Oireachtas was considered a step too far, one that opened the way to far greater abuse of power and privilege. Now, one year later, the people are being asked to give more power to the State for an even more worthy cause, the protection of children.

It is not the issue of child protection that is core, anymore than it was the issue of nailing corruption that was core in the amendment previously referred to. The core question is who is entrusted to exercise the proposed new powers and can they be trusted with that power? Under the Constitution as it exists, parents who fail to care for their children “morally and physically” can be charged for their negligence and have their children taken from them into the State’s protection.