Madam, - In Bertie Ahern's recent letter to constituents regarding his retirement as Taoiseach, he stated that "the Irish people are innately decent". I am sure we would all like to think this true.
However, there is something innately indecent about a society that allows over 440 children, who entered this State unaccompanied since 2000, to disappear without trace.
The arrangements the State makes for the care of such children are completely inadequate and there is mounting evidence that many missing children end up being exploited. However, those in authority appear to be incapable or unwilling to do anything about it even though a Welsh Assembly report in August 2007 indicated that Ireland was a major route for the trafficking of children.
It is too easy to lay the blame for this situation at the door of the beleaguered HSE. Responsibility lies firmly with the Government, but there appears to be a profound lack of any political will to address the issue of these children's needs
With reference to your report of April 21st about the poverty of children's services in this country, we appear to perform little better on behalf of our vulnerable Irish-born children.
What does the care we have for vulnerable children say about our society's innate decency? - Yours, etc,
MURNA LAPPIN,
Claremont Crescent,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 11.