Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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420. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the findings of data collected by her Department on awareness levels following the national campaign to promote understanding of the Convention and its Second Optional Protocol, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62552/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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421. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the awareness campaign undertaken in line with Article 42 of the Convention and the Second Optional Protocol was structured to ensure both adults and children were informed of their rights and the obligations arising under the Convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62553/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.

In September 2024 the Department launched a public awareness campaign on the UNCRC. The campaign ‘Rights Here’ was rolled out across radio, digital and social media with the aim to increase public awareness of the UNCRC overall.

The campaign was guided by Article 42 of the Convention which notes that 'State Parties should undertake to make the principles and provisions of the Convention widely known, by appropriate and active means, to adults and children alike.'.

Children and young people were considered throughout the awareness raising campaign process and were involved in the design and delivery of campaign messaging, particularly the social media assets.

The campaign had the simple message that ‘Children in Ireland have rights... everywhere’, to reflect the universal nature of children’s rights, and directed people to find out more at www.gov.ie/UNCRC. Radio advertisements ran across a variety of stations, and campaign assets were shared widely across social media, with children’s voices to the fore.

The campaign webpage includes both official text and child friendly versions of UNCRC-related material and is designed to be easy to read. It also links to Young Ireland, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, which is underpinned by a child rights-based approach.

A nationally representative survey of awareness and understanding of the UNCRC was conducted before and after the campaign. Some high-level results are laid out below.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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422. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the State's preparations for ratification of the Second Optional Protocol before the end of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62554/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UNCRC, and work is ongoing to ratify the protocol as soon as possible.

In Irish treaty practice, the State must be in a position to meet the obligations it assumes under the terms of an international agreement from the moment it enters into force. Often it will not be possible for the State to meet these obligations without first taking steps required by domestic law, or otherwise, enabling it to do so.

As work towards ratification of the protocol continues, the State is obliged to ensure that all legislative provisions are in place for it to meet these obligations. Considering this, the Department is seeking the advice of the Office of the Attorney General. As soon as we can proceed with ratification of the Second Optional Protocol, we will do so without delay.