Children's Beauty Pageants

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Questions (550, 552, 557)

Clare Daly

Question:

550. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take in order to prohibit the hosting of children's beauty pageants. [40414/13]

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552. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding a ban on beauty pageants for children under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40526/13]

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Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

557. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her proposals to bring forward legislative measures to address the holding of pageants and beauty contests for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40925/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 552 and 557 together.

I have previously stated I have serious concerns about these pageants because I see it as the inappropriate early sexualisation of very young children. We must defend the rights of our children to be three, four and five years of age and we need to address issues in relation to the sexualisation of children. In this regard I have previously worked with Retail Ireland to introduce the first guidelines on the responsible retailing of childrenswear. I note that the French Senate did voted recently on a possible ban on pageants but this has not and may not be fully enacted. I have asked my Department to further examine the current French proposal and the various issues relating to restricting pageants.