Paul Murphy Condemns State Failures After Harvey Protests
Paul Murphy criticised state failures following mass protests for Harvey, saying a young boy had been failed and calling for accountability. He urged a parliamentary debate on the failures of CHI and wider child services while Deputy Michael Collins outlined upcoming parliamentary scheduling.
Thousands of people came out onto the streets in August to demand justice for Harvey. Murphy said the public acted because they saw a young boy who had been failed by the state and because Harvey symbolised the failure of many children in the system.
Murphy referenced a 2017 pledge by Simon Harris about no child waiting longer than four months and criticised the failure to meet that commitment. He also noted that Simon Harris had given a commitment to meet the family and then failed to do so, which fuelled public anger and calls for accountability.
Murphy said there needs to be a debate about the failures, and specifically about the failures of CHI, in the coming week. He framed the issue as emblematic of broader systemic problems affecting children in the state and called for scrutiny and answers.
Deputy Michael Collins reported that the business committee met last Thursday at 11 o'clock and that there was no request for a debate on energy at that meeting. He said another business committee meeting would take place tomorrow at 11 o'clock and that requests could be taken on board, with statements or debates on Gaza to be facilitated in the next week or two and speaking time available for the disability strategy draw this afternoon.
Public protests and demands
Thousands of people came out onto the streets in August to demand justice for Harvey. Murphy said the public acted because they saw a young boy who had been failed by the state and because Harvey symbolised the failure of many children in the system.
Broken promises highlighted
Murphy referenced a 2017 pledge by Simon Harris about no child waiting longer than four months and criticised the failure to meet that commitment. He also noted that Simon Harris had given a commitment to meet the family and then failed to do so, which fuelled public anger and calls for accountability.
Call for debate on CHI and child services
Murphy said there needs to be a debate about the failures, and specifically about the failures of CHI, in the coming week. He framed the issue as emblematic of broader systemic problems affecting children in the state and called for scrutiny and answers.
Parliamentary business and scheduling
Deputy Michael Collins reported that the business committee met last Thursday at 11 o'clock and that there was no request for a debate on energy at that meeting. He said another business committee meeting would take place tomorrow at 11 o'clock and that requests could be taken on board, with statements or debates on Gaza to be facilitated in the next week or two and speaking time available for the disability strategy draw this afternoon.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Brian Stanley
Brian Stanley slams IDA over Leprino plant closure in Portlaoise
Shay Brennan
Shay Brennan: Calls for action on competition in insurance market
Carol Nolan
Carol Nolan backs task force to speed special schools delivery
Brian Stanley
Brian Stanley: Calls to Cut Autism Waiting Lists and Fix Transport Access
Martin Daly
Martin Daly on Housing Crisis: Calls for Rezoning and Infrastructure
Martin Daly
Martin Daly urges funding to make disability strategy a reality
Transcript
Thousands of people came out onto the streets in August to demand justice for Harvey. They did so because they saw a young boy who was failed so horribly by the state. They did so because they saw the broken promises from Simon Harris who made the promise back in 2017 about no child waiting longer than four months. They did so because they were appalled at the failure of Simon Harris to meet with the family after giving a commitment to do so. They also did so because Harvey symbolised the failure of so many children in this state. We need to have a debate about that failure and about the failures of CHI in particular this week. Deputy Michael Collins. What I want to say is that the business committee met last Thursday at 11 o'clock. There was no request for a debate on energy last Thursday but we will be having another business committee meeting tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock and I can take on board all the requests that have been put in place. Yes, we will certainly have a debate or statements on Gaza in the next week or two. That was discussed last Thursday and we will certainly be able to facilitate that. The Minister is actually in the draw this afternoon in relation to statements on the disability strategy. There is speaking time available if anybody would like to speak. We will see you all tomorrow at 11 o'clock. There are the whips and the business as of today stands.