Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the objectives of the national children's strategy is to end physical punishment of children; if he will introduce legislation to prohibit a parent from administering physical chastisement of a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27131/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware from my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 25 June 2009, Government policy in this matter is expressed in the National Children's Strategy. One of the objectives of the Strategy, which was launched in 2000 and has a ten year life span, states "...As part of a policy of ending physical punishment, parenting courses will focus on alternative approaches to manage difficult behaviour in children". The present legal arrangements governing reasonable chastisement can be reviewed in light of developments arising from the Strategy.