International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Sharon Keogan (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

Regrettably, I did not put down any amendments on the prohibition of children being detained, but I would like to know what the Minister thinks that should look like, when it comes to the detention centres for children. I might be the only person in here who has ever fostered children who have come through the airports as unaccompanied minors. I tell him that the hardest thing you will ever do as a foster parent is to bring a child into your home who has come off a plane. Most kids I had were under the age of 12 and it is harrowing to deal with those children who have been left to fend for themselves in a country and a strange place where they know nobody. No person should have to hear the howls and cries of those children. I do not know what the Minister is going to propose to make that an easier transition for those unaccompanied minors who come here and find themselves either trafficked into this country or without documentation. Maybe they are in a transition period as they find somebody they are related to and who could already be in direct provision in this country. Having a safe and loving environment for that child to come into is really important because that child will be traumatised for years to come. I would like to know what that looks like to the Minister. What do these detention centres look like? I can tell him, from a child's perspective, it is a hard place to be.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-19