I rise today with a deep sense of responsibility because there are children in our care system who do not have a voice in this Chamber and yet their lives are shaped by the decisions we make here. The recent statement from the Irish Association of Social Workers once again exposed the reality of a system under strain, a system increasingly reliant on special emergency arrangements, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and unregulated settings for children who deserve much better. Let us be clear; these are not just placements. These are children, children who have already experienced trauma, neglect and instability, now placed in an environment that cannot offer the safety, consistency and belonging that they need to heal.

At the centre of this is Tusla, the arm of the State with responsibility for both preventative supports and emergency responses for children and families. However, we are seeing an over-reliance on emergency care beds and placements rather than a system built on early intervention, family support and planned care. This is not sustainable and, more importantly, it is not acceptable for the children living it.

We have heard powerful testimonies in recent days from young adults who have left care and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their courage. However, where are the voices of the children still in care today? Where are the voices of those under 18 living the reality right now, often without language, protection or a platform to speak? Their silence is not absence; it is a silence we are responsible for. The Ombudsman for Children and EPIC play a critical role in amplifying the lived experience of children and young people in care. However, they cannot do it alone. As legislators, we must ensure that children's voices are not just heard in hindsight but actively shape the system that they are still within.

Today I am calling for the Minister to come before the House in the coming weeks to facilitate dedicated statements on children in care, not broad discussions but focused urgent engagement on Tusla's over-reliance on emergency care beds and unregulated placements, the shortage of foster, kinship and appropriate residential care options and, critically, how we are capturing and responding to the voices of children currently in the system.

If we are honest, this is not a new crisis. It is a known failure, one that has been building for many years. We must move beyond managing emergencies and begin building a system rooted in prevention, early intervention and family support. Keeping children safely within their families and communities must always be the priority, where possible, supported by meaningful investment and not just intention. Where that is not possible, every child must have access to stable, nurturing and properly supported care, not temporary or unsuitable placements.

None of this will matter if we do not listen. We have to actively create a space where children can speak. I believe in that. Perhaps the Deputy Leader might consider bringing children here and having a dedicated day for children in care.