AN impassioned plea was made by Mr Pat Magner (Lab) for an urgent debate on the "street children" of Dublin. Speaking on the order of business, Mr Magner was supported by several other speakers.
The Leader of the House, Mr Maurice Manning, in reply, promised to arrange a debate or statements.
Mr Magner said "In town yesterday, there seemed to be an enormous increase in the number 31 children sitting on O'Connell Bridge and in alleyways with cardboard boxes and signs which were obviously written by adults which read `homeless and hungry'.
"It was very laudable for this House to discuss a Bill to protect children who are being sexually abused abroad. However, we have a disgraceful situation here with which nobody seems to be able to come to grips.
"This is a large issue and a debate needs to be tightly focused on those children who never seem to get a chance ...
Will the Leader initiate a debate with the relevant Minister? I am not sure who is responsible because despite the legislation we pass in relation to children we never seem to be able to address it. If those living on social welfare or unemployment benefit send their children out in that way on a constant basis there would be an outcry. But we accept the situation. Why do we accept it?
"Let us have a debate on that specific issue as soon as possible ... We cannot live with this any more. The Government and this House have an obligation to devise meaningful ways to tackle this appalling problem."
Mr David Norris (Ind) supported the call. "Over the last couple of years, a person sporadically turned up at the gates of this House with a placard about this subject and asked us to address it. We mentioned it on a number of occasions but we never had the full debate and ventilation for which Senator Magner has appealed."
Later, Mr Magner said he would seek clarification on these children from the departments of Justice and Social Welfare.
Also on the order of business, Mr Eddie Bohan (FF) said he was outraged to read in newspapers that the State is paying £500 a day to protect "a gentleman known as the Viper" who, he claimed, was "a gangster and criminal".
"At least four rural Garda Siochana stations could be kept open with the £3,500 spent on this man. Is the Minister aware? Does she condone it? It is an outrage because this gentleman has plenty of money and if he is in danger, he should pay for his own protection." Mr Bohan said he would continue raising the issue as long as the man was getting protection.
Mr Norris asked what the alternative was to this alleged ironic affair.
Mr Bohan Shoot him.
Mr Norris protested vigorously at this and asked the Leader to assure the Minister for Justice she had their support in her difficult battle against crime.