James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On 14 January, I led the delegation at Ireland’s examination in Geneva by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, regarding Ireland’s consolidated 3rd and 4th periodic reports. As is normally the case, the delegation consisted of officials from the Attorney General’s Office, my Department and officials from a number of other Government Departments, namely, the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Education and Skills; Social Protection; Health; Justice and Equality; and the Environment, Community and Local Government.

I had the opportunity to make an opening statement for the purpose of outlining to the committee the achievements, challenges and priorities relating to the advancement of children’s rights in our country. My statement to the committee was published on the day it was delivered and the Deputy can access this information. The Deputy can view the dialogue that took place with the committee by accessing the recorded webcast of the proceedings which is on the committee's website. I pointed out that in recent years we had a children's referendum, which enshrines the rights of children in their own right in the Constitution, that we have established a new Department of Children and Youth Affairs with a senior Cabinet Minister and a new Child and Family Agency. We have also put in place many other pieces of legislation on aftercare, removal of "reasonable chastisement" and other initiatives around the Child Care Act and putting the Children First guidelines on a statutory basis, to mention but some.

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