The "Breach of Trust" programme broadcast by RTE last night as part of the "Prime Time" series showed a disgraceful and unacceptable level of abuse, intimidation and neglect of the children in the facilities concerned. We should bear in mind, however, that the vast majority of crèches are run professionally. The vital element is the system of inspection in force. In County Louth, for example, where the Health Service Executive is rigorous in its inspections, there are very few problems. The difficulty is the lack of standardisation throughout the country.

Senator Jillian van Turnhout will be aware from her work on the referendum on children's rights that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is wholly committed to the welfare of children.

Absolutely.

The Minister is treating this issue with the utmost seriousness. While there are undoubtedly problems, I have full confidence that the Minister and her officials, working with the HSE, will tackle them. We must not tolerate a situation where conditions in a small minority of crèches are such that they could be considered to be the industrial schools or Magdalen laundries of the 21st century. We are, however, talking about a small number of facilities.