Foster home scandal: Shamefully, we are all to blame

THERE is a certain justice, a shaming irony, that the stage management around calling an election has been disrupted by an escalating scandal involving an as-yet unreformed public service, albeit an under-resourced one, and yet another appalling betrayal of the most vulnerable citizens entrusted to care services. Events, dear boy, events.

The core issues eating away at the integrity and basic decency of this society are all represented in these shocking revelations. A minority of health service managers, unequal or indifferent to their responsibilities because they know they will not face any real sanction no matter what they do or don’t do; meaningless, begrudgingly-given HSE apologies; under-resourced health and child protection services; a disbelieving police force; a political administration that did not sufficiently improve failing child protection systems and, most importantly, a public — every one of us — that tolerates this savagery despite all of the harrowing lessons learned over decades about endemic, institutionalised abuse of the weakest in this society. Pro-life Ireland indeed.

If politicians, when they knock on our doors looking for our vote, were challenged, really challenged, about grotesque failures like the foster home scandal rather than water charges, potholes or a few cents off tax rates, then things might, just might change. They must change very quickly — a child protection professional yesterday claimed there are 1,351 “emergency” files on vulnerable children in HSE offices but that there are not enough social workers to supervise those cases. Those children are, at this moment, left without the protection we would deem appropriate for a stray dog. That person also argued that newly-qualified social workers are often unsupervised and too inexperienced for complex cases. It was also suggested that most cases can only get so far in the system as there are not enough judges to deal with the case load involved. How can this be in one of the richest countries in the world? How did we allow this culture of neglect and callous indifference come to represent our nation?

Though it may be tempting for non-Government candidates to use this scandal to attack the outgoing Government, this is a long-standing legacy issue, a legacy of failure and, like all citizens, all politicians must take some blame.

In recent days, President Michael D Higgins questioned the emphasis being placed on tax cuts. “Is it possible to have a decent society and... continue to lower taxes for... short-term benefit?” he challenged. Sadly, and tragically for those placed in an abusive environment by the HSE, the answer to that question is obvious. This scandal, and Enda Kenny’s cynical coyness on Michael Lowry, may have an unexpected influence in the coming election but they are transient symptoms rather than defining issues. The real issue is how has this society, once — at least nominally — warm, decent, caring and Christian, came to tolerate failure and barbarism on this scale? Each of us should reflect on our role, even our passive role, in this collapse and how we might help turn the tide. Demanding far, far more from all Oireachtas candidates, and ourselves too, would be a good starting point.