Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As deputy leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe - I note that other Members present are on the Council of Europe - I am delighted the Council has made a ruling that the lack of a clear ban on the slapping of children is a violation of young people's rights. Europe's top human rights body today ruled that Ireland's laws on corporal punishment are in breach of the European Social Charter, whose signatories promise to protect children and young persons against negligence, violence or exploitation. While legislation which allowed parents to use force against children was repealed almost 15 years ago, the defence of reasonable chastisement still exists in common law for parents or child carers. In response to the ruling, the Minister for Children, Deputy James Reilly, is expected to pledge later today to explicitly ban the smacking of children in foster or residential care through new regulations. It is not good enough just to ban that; those in foster homes or anywhere else should not be allowed to physically slap or beat children. That was the issue with abuse in the Magdalen homes, by the brothers and elsewhere in the past. They used corporal punishment to attack young children. This is a great ruling. As a member of the Council of Europe, I am delighted it has made this ruling. The Government should follow up as quickly as possible. There is no justification for such abuse - for slapping a child. Children should be cherished. I hope the Government will move quickly in this regard.