Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 4, before section 2, to insert the following new section:

"2.—That the interests of the child should be a primary consideration in line with Article 3 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.".

This debacle has shown that we must place more focus and attention on the rights of children, not only in this legislation but also in the wider body of law. In particular, we must enshrine the rights of children in the Constitution. Unless we incorporate those rights in the fundamental statute underlying every other law, we are not giving enough attention to children's needs.

While I understand that many aspects of the Bill touch on the convoluted, important and controversial issues affecting children, we should include phrasing in the law so that the rights of the child are a primary consideration. It would better inform the various agencies that address the matter of children's welfare and the way in which judges deal with the law.

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