Dr. Niall Muldoon:

Again, our job is to promote the rights of every child in Ireland. Whether that is a black child, a child from a different religion, country, of no state, an asylum seeker or LGBT, they should be safe and feel secure. They should be able to access all the services every other child gets and they should be able to be who they are, provided they follow all the rules and regulations society provides. It should always be that every child feels he or she can reach his or her potential in our country. That is what we need to build: a country that protects and promotes children.

We are now in a world that is falling around us. Rights are being denied in many countries around the world and regulation is being seen as a bad thing. We have an opportunity here in Ireland to say we are going to stand up for what we believe to be right, which is children's rights. We could say we will incorporate that into our domestic law and will ensure every child who lives here, feels safe, secure and wanted, no matter how they present themselves, whether that is as violent, a drug addict or a choir boy; nothing matters. We could say we will protect their rights completely. That, in turn, creates an atmosphere of welcoming people in from around the world.

We worry about economics. I suggest there are many entrepreneurs around the world who would love to come to Ireland because this is where their family will feel safe and their children will grow up in a good place. They will know their rights will be protected and there are checks and balances around that.

For me, that is the vision we should have for Ireland and I have said this to the Taoiseach. This would create Ireland as a world leader. Nobody in Europe has incorporated the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 20 years. This is an opportunity to say this is the best place in the world to grow up as a child and that we are putting our money where our mouth is by putting this into our laws and that we will follow those rules. That should make it safer for everybody.