I am delighted to be here today to launch the Barnardos Family Support Project in Buckingham Street. The result of a lot hard work by Barnardos, Dublin City Council and the HSE, this is a great example of partnership in action and will deliver high quality, professional support and help to some of the more vulnerable children and families in this area.
A lot of good people were involved in this project. But I would like to single out for particular mention the late Paddy Wright, who sadly passed away just before Christmas last year. A true Dub, Paddy was well known to most of us. He was a very successful businessman, who devoted a great deal of his life to public service. He was also a very generous man and was involved in many acts of private philanthropy.
Paddy’s support for this particular project was in keeping with a lifelong focus on educational access for children from the Northside and, like so many of his activities, helped turn a vision of hope and opportunity into a reality. I know that Paddy’s widow, Carol, and other family members are here with us today to celebrate the opening of “The Paddy Wright House”. Today is a very special day for Paddy’s family and for the local community and a very welcome opportunity to pay tribute to a life of achievement and service.
Children and child - related issues are a high priority for the Government. The Office of the Minister for Children, which we set up in 2005, is committed to improving the lives of all children in Ireland and works to ensure the strategic and integrated delivery of services for children and young people.
In addition, the Government remains committed to holding a referendum on Children's Rights, to establish robust safeguards for all children in Ireland. We are awaiting the outcome of the deliberations of the Joint Committee so that an amendment to the Constitution, based on all-party consensus, can be put to the people as soon as possible.
It is vital that our children get the best possible start in life. The old adage is true – ‘the children of today are the adults of tomorrow”. In order to ensure that we continue to prosper as a nation, we must do everything we can to help our children develop to their full potential.
We all know that the best place for a child to develop is at the heart of a nurturing, caring family. One of Barnados' core principles is that childhood works best when families work well. We also know, however, that families can face many very serious difficulties which can disrupt effective parenting.
Barnardos engages on a daily basis with families caught up in difficult circumstances, supporting them and helping them in practical ways. Most importantly, it enables the children involved to develop the skills and confidence to get the most from what education can offer them.
While, last year, Barnardos worked with 5,000 children and families in 42 centres around Ireland, they are relatively new to working in this part of Dublin. The learning and insight from the many community and local groups and services already here has been invaluable in helping them to become established and I know that Barnados is very grateful for all the help.
This project will work closely with parents, grandparents and carers of children, from birth up to around twelve years of age, whose well-being is under threat. I understand that targeted support is to be provided to twenty vulnerable families who are facing severe and chronic difficulty. The focus will be on strengthening the parent/child relationship; building on strengths of parents and children; and increasing coping capacities.
This is an excellent project and support for it has been phenomenal. In addition to Paddy Wright's enormous contribution, Dublin City Council, the HSE, Barnardos, the local community and many others have all been instrumental in getting the project up and running. The partnership approach will continue to be vital in carrying on this very important work. I have no doubt that all concerned will play their part to the full.
I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of the Ely Restaurant chain, who for the past year or so have been donating €1 to Barnados every time their most popular dish is ordered. In a very fitting gesture of thanks to Eric and Michelle Robson of Ely Restaurants, the kitchen in Buckingham Street will be called the “Bangers and Mash Room”. And I understand that people will have a chance to sample the real thing after this launch.
They say you should never stand between people and food so I will not keep you too much longer.
Before I leave you today I would, however, like to say a few words about the forthcoming referendum on the EU Reform Treaty. Ireland has benefited massively from membership of the European Union, in terms of significant funding and our participation in the Single Market, of course, but also, through the major impact that it has had on social and cultural life. The time has now come when the institutions of the EU need to change so that they can develop, grow and deliver for citizens of Europe in an even better way.
The Reform Treaty will not only enhance and improve the functioning of the Union but will support economic growth, job creation, international trade and environmental sustainability; speed up decision making; and give us a Union more responsive to all of us. It also gives effect to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and expressly identifies the values which underpin the Union. This referendum is important not only for the people of Ireland but for all of Europe and I encourage you to become engaged in this most important debate in the lead up to June 12th.
In closing, I would just like to thank you very much for inviting me here today; to commend Barnardos on their excellent work throughout Ireland; and to wish them every success with their new project in Buckingham Street.
ENDS