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Opinion Horror doesn't belong to the past, Ireland's most vulnerable are still marginalised and neglected

These are the unpalatable facts: we are living at a time of growing homelessness and food poverty, and we allow vulnerable children to socially excluded, neglected and ignored.

AFTER OVER A week of silence, the Irish government has finally addressed the discovery of a large number of human remains close to the site of a mother and child care home run by the Sisters of Bon Secours in Tuam. A local historian has claimed that the remains are those of residents of the home, where up to 796 children died between 1925 and 1961.

The discovery is the latest in a series of appalling revelations of systemic maltreatment and abuse of children in a range of contexts in Ireland. The extent of Ireland’s failures towards its children is well-documented in the Ryan Report, the Ferns Report and the findings of the Kilkenny Incest Inquiry.

Following international and national media reports, there has rightly been heavy criticism of the Catholic Church who ran the home and calls for a public inquiry. The Minister for Children, Charlie Flanagan is reported as referring to the discovery as ‘deeply disturbing and a shocking reminder of a darker past in Ireland when our children were not cherished as they should have been’.

It is only to be expected that Ireland (both official and otherwise) would be deeply angered and shaken by this recent news. We regard ourselves as a society that cares about children and that regrets the bad things that were done to them both in the distant and not-so-distant past.

Children in Ireland today

It is only unfortunate that this concern does not appear to extent to the position of children in Ireland today. Examples of Ireland’s failure to address the contemporary challenges faced by children abound.

We are living at a time of growing child homelessness and food poverty. The collapse of the Celtic Tiger and the measures implemented as part of the bail-out have exacerbated children’s pre-existing disadvantage; in the last few years, we have seen swingeing cuts to social protection that directly and disproportionately impact on children, particularly child benefit. In its own impact assessment of the 2013 Budget, the Department of Social Protection stated that ‘the households worst affected by the measures are those with children, in particular lone parent families’ – a fact that is particularly ironic given strident contemporary criticism of the treatment of single mothers and their children in in the past.

The State has still not put in place a full ban on parental physical punishment despite being found to be in violation of its European human rights law obligations. Disinvestment in Traveller education threatens to undo efforts towards mainstreaming Travellers into the main education system. As of December 2013, over 1,500 children were living in direct provision centres, despite the fact that the way in which these centres are structured and operate pose significant child protection risks. Our failure to ensure the safety of separated children – perhaps the most vulnerable of all children in Ireland – is reflected in the fact that between 2000 and 2010, 513 of these children went missing from State care between 2000 and 2010, the vast majority of whom are still unaccounted for.

Helping those in the here and now

But these facts do not cause outcry. They do not result in widespread calls for public inquiries and memorials. And this speaks volumes about how much Ireland – both official and unofficial – really cares about children.

It is easy to feel sympathy for dead children whose needs do not make demands on societal resources – whether financial or otherwise. Indeed, Irish society’s historic fixation on the legal protection on the unborn, while ignoring the need to guarantee the protection and rights of children, is strongly suggestive of a society that is more concerned about children in the abstract than the reality of their day-to-day lives.

Hindsight is 20/20 and we in Ireland are ever more prepared to recognise the past wrongs suffered by children in this country. But doing full justice to children requires us to address head-on our contemporary treatment. Until then, we will continue to fail those for whom we have responsibility in the here and now.

Aoife Nolan is a Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Nottingham. Read more about her academic work here or read her articles on the Huffington Post. Follow on Twitter: @commentator01.

Opinion: Tuam’s 800 babies – a legacy of shame and horror beyond words

Read:  Up to 40,000 more children living in poverty since last year – Barnardos

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    Mute mick h
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    May 5th 2015, 6:19 AM

    I think that this needs to be brought in to law and is long overdue. People do not take these sort of decisions lightly and it’s the alternative of a long, drawn out and painful death that drives them to this point. I believe that anyone who is facing an inevitable death through illness deserves the right to choose a dignified and far less painful means of passing. It’s far easier on the person who is suffering and on their loved ones – it’s just the humane thing to do.

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    Mute Richard Cynical
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    May 5th 2015, 8:12 AM

    That headline alone shows what’s wrong with party politics. Vote for your favourite dictatorship.

    60
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    Mute Barry O 'Mahony
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    May 5th 2015, 7:09 AM

    Doctors who ‘assist’ terminally ill patients not only face possible criminal prosecution but would also run the risk of being struck off the register.
    On the other hand as a veterinarian, failure to euthanase a terminally ill animal who is suffering from uncontrollable pain, could result in prosecution and/or being struck off.

    QED The law can sometimes be an arse.

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    Mute Joe
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    May 5th 2015, 11:51 AM

    Does euthanasia not go totally against the Hippocratic oath?

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    Mute Ugly Truth
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    May 5th 2015, 11:58 AM

    Not since the ‘practice’ needed more office space.

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    Mute Aaron McKenna
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    May 5th 2015, 12:04 PM

    As far as I’m aware, there’s nothing in the Hippocratic oath that specifically tells doctors they can’t help someone die. Indeed, an awful lot of the oath talks about treating a person, not a disease; and applying human compassion.

    If the oath was “Keep someone alive as long as possible” we wouldn’t have hospices where people go once a decision has been made that enough is enough. Plenty of people go into one, get big doses of morphine and slip away peacefully after long battles have been fought to their conclusion.

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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 5th 2015, 12:57 PM

    “First do no harm”. It’s hardly harm to spare someone pain. You could say inaction is harmful

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    May 5th 2015, 12:58 PM

    Something something noxious substances…
    Anyone who googles the oath can see it’s not about killing people.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    May 5th 2015, 1:58 PM

    There’s a fine line between positive steps with the purpose of ending a life – which is currently illegal, and the exception of accelerating death – i.e. “a terminally ill or dying person will receive adequate pain relief and palliative care, even if this treatment as a side-effect may contribute to the shortening of the individual’s life.” – which IS legal and is spelt out in the Medical Council’s guide to medical conduct.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    May 5th 2015, 2:01 PM

    @ Aaron – you’re confusing personal autonomy and futile attempts to prolong life with assisted suicide – two distinctly different areas of law.

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    Mute Shanti
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    May 5th 2015, 3:56 PM

    Doctors no longer swear the Hippocratic oath. Some swear a duty of care oath, but many don’t swear any oath at all.

    They’re well aware that they’re on the hook if anything is done wrong, that’s a far bigger incentive than an oath.

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    Mute Barry
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    May 5th 2015, 6:29 AM

    We’re a messed up society, we think it’s wrong to allow any animal to suffer before it dies and we’ll often opt to end things early to stop suffering for our pets.

    But as a country we have no problem letting one of our own species needlessly suffer before death, most of this is based on religions that claim that ending things early is “immoral”.

    So apparently the moral thing is to watch you’re loved ones suffer and to ignore their wishes, requests and wants to die with dignity.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    May 5th 2015, 12:15 PM

    We aren’t really messed up. It is a complex issue that needs to be well thought out before implementation.
    I support the right to choose but there are valid concerns about it not being done for convenience.
    Would an elderly parent ask for euthanasia if they realised their care put their children in financial hardship?Ate into inheritance ?
    Would the children push for it? Is medication or illness effecting the decision making?
    I am glad we are in a society that wants to safe guard people and not allow the wrong thing for the right reason.

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    Mute Marty Flood
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    May 5th 2015, 11:58 AM

    Why not a referendum on this instead of the presidential age bullshit?

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    Mute stephen
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    May 5th 2015, 2:05 PM

    Great point Marty.

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    Mute Joe O'Brien
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    May 6th 2015, 11:48 AM

    Please no referendum. I’ve had enough of Iona & the god squad to last me a lifetime.

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    May 5th 2015, 6:57 AM

    The next pro-life crusade. Prolong life without regard for the wishes of the person’s dignity. Mere existence isn’t living.

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    Mute Richard Cheney
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    May 5th 2015, 7:50 AM

    Exactly,another Crusade for David Quinn and Breda O’Brien trying to keep Iona relevant. They’ll probably roll out a skeleton with a ventriloquist and ask him ‘You didn’t want to die did you Mr.Bones?’ and then something about cultural Marxism.

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    Mute John Ryan
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    May 5th 2015, 12:46 PM

    I won’t be held responsible for my actions it her or her like come anywhere near this one.

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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 5th 2015, 12:56 PM

    Since you mention it, where was the “pro-choice” vigil for Marie Fleming? Are only certain choices worth marching for?

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    Mute pongodhall
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    Sep 11th 2015, 3:15 AM

    It should be up to the individual and not to pro-life, doctors, lawyers etc.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 5th 2015, 7:44 AM

    I would back this and vote for this. It should be a basic human right. I have watched 2 of my relatives die in absolute pain. One said to me “I’m having a very long death aren’t I”. That still haunts me.

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    Mute Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin
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    May 5th 2015, 7:18 AM

    This is such an important case. Journalist Dave Kenny will be talking to Marie’s daughter Corinna and her ghost writer Sue Leonard about Marie’s remarkable life at Waterford Writers Weekend on 9th May if anyone wants to show their support in person.
    http://www.eventbrite.ie/e/an-act-of-love-the-marie-fleming-story-tickets-16035415359

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    May 5th 2015, 9:16 AM

    We really need to enact this law as soon as possible, but I expect the RCC to do all in their power to stop it from happening.

    If a person of sound mind has specifically requested it then I cannot see any valid reason for prolonging their life to suffer pain and indignity.

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    Mute helixjo1
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    May 5th 2015, 11:43 AM

    Can’t see any reason to argue against this.

    Though compassion can sometimes be over-ruled by lunacy in this country.

    It really is time we all started living in the 21st century and applying a little logic to these situations.

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    Mute Joe O'Brien
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    May 5th 2015, 11:40 AM

    If a candidate in Galway West supports this legislation, then I’ll happily give them my No.1 vote.

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    Mute Philip Kenna
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    May 5th 2015, 8:20 AM

    Td’s break ranks! Pfffft! I’m afraid that with regards to this subject you will have to look after your own affairs discretely. The powers that be haven’t the mettle to tackle this in the race to get re elected. Sorry “TRY” to get re elected.

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    Mute Denise Friary
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    May 5th 2015, 6:07 AM

    Every one has the right to die in peace and if they didn’t broadcast their private business to the world then that would happen.

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    Mute Derek Walsh
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    May 5th 2015, 10:37 AM

    Unfortunately, people’s right to die in peace is not recognised by the law, and people can be and have been prosecuted for helping someone to die peacefully even when they didn’t “broadcast” it. The culture of having laws that we allow people to ignore while authorities look the other way is not one we want to perpetuate or depend upon.

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    Mute Jake Race
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    May 5th 2015, 12:00 PM

    Please, lets stop tolerating Irish solutions to Irish problems.

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    Mute Le Tigre
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    May 5th 2015, 12:55 PM

    That’s a meaningless cliche and we should stop tolerating it

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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    May 5th 2015, 9:26 AM

    Well done Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    May 5th 2015, 7:16 AM

    I agree with Tom Curran! I think TD’s have the right to die and the sooner the better.

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    Mute stephen
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    May 5th 2015, 2:11 PM

    I am in total favour of the right to die campaign, but having watched both parents and a sibling die of cancer related illness, I have to say they died with dignity with the help of the amazing hospice staff and the advance of pain killers. But I am not as brave if I have a terminal disease,I want the option to be euthanised.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    May 5th 2015, 12:02 PM

    What an interesting little country we live in…
    The Supreme Court finds against a right to die – yet we can introduce one by legislation.
    The High Court refuses to recognise Same Sex Marriage, so we need a referendum – despite a constitutional bar to legislating for it.
    The Dáil is not permitted to debate TMFR – because of an AGs opinion that cannot be seen.
    This is why the bankers are laughing!

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    May 5th 2015, 9:29 PM

    Dammit that should be no constitutional bar to legislating…

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    Mute Finn Mc Cool
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    May 5th 2015, 3:25 PM

    All the comments are just barking mad… Who says brainwashing doesn’t happen ?

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    Mute Gerard
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    May 5th 2015, 3:55 PM

    I have a problem with neither, but I can’t say I see the difference between “assisted suicide” and “euthanasia”.

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    Mute Shanti
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    May 5th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Euthanasia is where someone else decides to end your suffering – this is what happens with animals.

    Assisted suicide is where the person has asked to die. Meaning that it’s *their* intent, not the choice or intent of the assistant.

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    Mute Gerard
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    May 6th 2015, 6:01 AM

    But when we talk about euthanasia being legal elsewhere, it’s ALWAYS is as per your definition (for people).

    Anyway, hope he’s successful but I think his estimation of how many TDs are willing to defy the whip is wishful thinking at best.

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    Mute Dermot O Reilly
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    May 5th 2015, 3:25 PM

    Is this Endas next big plan.

    Wipe out any person over 70 years?

    Is Enda sane?

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    Mute Shanti
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    May 5th 2015, 3:57 PM

    Where on earth did you get that from the article?

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    May 5th 2015, 9:30 PM

    Shanti,
    I know you’re in favour of what Kenny is doing, but he is a fascist.

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