Charity contributions should go to Irish charities first and foremost. We need to address the poverty on our own doorstep urgently.  Irish Lottery funds should be directed to improve the situation of those in need, especially the young and the elderly. Our taxes should not be sent out of the country to aid other 3rd world countries, our own people are losing their homes and their livelihoods on a daily basis. No Irish child should go hungry. 

There is enough wealth in this world for all to have food, but unequally distributed.

Those in power, unaware of hardships/poverty of families struggling, on welfare and those working, with little income left, after bills paid. 

I remember poverty during the 1950's and 1960's in Ireland, children regularly fainted in school. 

But, alas, many in power do not want to remember Ireland back then, or may not have experienced.   

I agree with CAET, no child should go hungry, many in power have forgotten, goody for supper, and stirrabout for breakfast, which was on the work house menu.....

To the previous posters, I don't think the kids are hungry due to lack of money, I think it's just bad parenting.

There are of course bad parents who buy substances or have mental problems, whose children will be left hungry by their parent's choices for spending their income. (Here our overworked and over-stretched Social Workers should be keeping tabs via information from schools etc., of the children's situation). Having agreed partially on your point Jamie, I have to disagree as well. What does a good, loving and caring parent do when there simply isn't enough money to give three square meals a day to their family? They go without themselves and spread out the available food as best they can. This will still mean their children will be hungry as the food available is insufficient to meet their daily calorie intake needs due to lack of finance, not lack of love, care and knowing about nutrition. Those of us who still have jobs, can still pay our mortgages or rent and other bills are in a priviledged position, and in the current European economic crisis a precarious one as well. Things can change overnight in anyone's life, or in a split second. An accident, a loss of a breadwinner etc. I stand by what I say, charity begins at home. Irish children and Irish families taken care of first and foremost. For years Irish people have sent money to Africa (for example), to feed the children, I think it's time to look to our own problems and take care of them first.

While we, the 50's and 60's, children fainted regularly in school/mass from hunger, we filled the *black baby cards, *(This is not racist). 

This is what the *cards were called at that time, I think it was 1 Penny, per bead...or maybe 6 pennies per  card...?

I agree with Caet, children should not go hungry, parents do their utmost for their children, sacrafice their meals, so their children do not go hungry....

CAET, there is absolutely no reason why any child in this country can go hungry except for poor parenting. Food isn't expensive. And it should be top priority for any parent to pay for their childrens food. Would be interesting to see how many of the parents of these hungry kids smoke

Hey Jamie, That's a horrible comment you made! You should take that back. Any chance to shoot down the smoker again of course.

In relation to the comment; "CAET, there is absolutely no reason why any child in this country can go hungry except for poor parenting" Jamie, I think you should show a little respect, for hunger, poverty, and dispel your fallacies, and false beliefs. Is it the fault of the child or the parent when hunger traps society? I would state hunger is faultless, by child and mother, but to those in power, hunger is a weapon, and weapons destroy, whether be it to improve or impoverish, for future gain. When hunger leaps from the trees, it is now and here, not two years time, to be addressed, and debated.... Hunger needs fuel... Hunger needs food.... without it.......... Hunger kills....

D.A., if you think parents should prioritise their cigarettes ahead of their childs food?

Well said Tigh. Jamie, I don't think you really get it do you? We aren't talking about people who have enough money like you seem to, we are talking about those who don't. The discussion topic is hunger in Irish children, not smoking. I did acknowledge that some bad parenting might be the cause of children not having enough to eat due to buying substances, (drugs and alcohol), or being mentally ill.  Once again, this should be addressed by Social Welfare workers. I am delighted that you think food is cheap! Really? I suppose if you just buy bread, jam and some cheap spread and drink water (not bottled), you might be able to live on next to nothing. However, if you are actually feeding your children 3 meals a day, with healthy, fresh food and they are having milk and cereals and juice to drink - I really challenge you to do that on next to nothing in your purse or wallet!

CAET, i think your last post just proved my argument. You can feed your kids. What's wrong with tap water? Have we really lost touch with reality that much? And you're actually saying going to school hungry is preferable to eating jam sandwiches! The snobbery is beyond belief!

Jamie, there are many reasons why children go hungry. Stop picking on smokers. Many people talk about all the fancy houses with two cars outside the door and yet their fridges are empty. We were poverised when I was small because my father drank most of the wages. There are many fat people who just gobble up what food is there and leave nothing for others. I had a brother like that. He was awful! Of course there is drugs, genuine lack of money, neglect, abuse and genuine bad parenting. Why pick out one particular group? 

                         In my home town when I was small I used to go to a penny dinner place run by the nuns at the time and it was so brilliant. Of course some people wouldn't be seen dead in these places and I certainly agree with you when you talk of the snobbery of some people. In the school there was also a little hut where you got a beautful cup of hot cocoa and a bun and it was so great. I'd love to see all these places come back again and see the children loving to go there. 

DA, I'll pick on anyone that buys recreational drugs over food for their kids. Smoking and drinking are the most common forms, so I picked one of them as an example. But a parent going to the pub while their child goes hungry is equally bad. My point was that there is no reason you shouldn't be able to feed your children in Ireland unless you're a bad parent. I notice you say there are parents that use drugs, neglect, abuse, parents with 2 cars outside the door and an empty fridge, someone who drinks his wages. You then add on "and genuine bad parenting". Well, if the list you just gave isn't a textbook example of bad parenting, I don't know what is!

Jamie - you still don't get it! You have proved nothing except a certain amount of determination to be a snob yourself in that you are very quick to say that bad parenting is the cause of hungry children. Devil's Advocate, I too have had hard times in my life my husband died very young and left me with 2 young children. There was no insurance to fall back on and no property assets. (PS I did not lived in a country where there was social welfare payments for children or a widow's allowance etc). I have always been in employment and went without in those days to make sure that my children did not suffer. Jamie, the mention of bread and jam and tap water was merely an illustration - not a put down on that meal as you well know. Many black children in South Africa live on less than that and now, believe it or not, there are Irish children, of Irish descent, who have 1 meal a day because of family financial problems. The parent/s are largely unable to pay all the bills due to the collapse of our economy, despite children's allowance for younger children. You know the reasons for that I am sure - and please don't say they were "partying" and it's their own fault! Buying a home in an over inflated market has been the downfall of most couples, add to that the loss of jobs and you have disaster! The day might still come when African school children are asked to contribute to feed Irish children!