The event, hosted by the Children’s Rights Alliance, was the first time in several years that all political parties sent representatives to affirm their commitment to tackling child poverty. Opening the event, Minister for Children Katherine Zapppone said child poverty must be tackled from “the heart of Government” which involved every Minister and department. “If we are serious about ending it we must take action now by appointing a national director to lead a child poverty unit within Government,” she said. Hot mealsMs Doherty, who is involved in an initiative to provide free hot school-meals to every primary school child by September of next year, said ending child poverty was not just about increasing social-welfare rates. “It would improve their health, education and mental health as well as providing a living wage to artists, many of whom are in very precarious situations,” said Mr Boyd Barrett.

Source: The Irish Times May 09, 2019 18:38 UTC