Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2016
24. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress she is making with the recommendations in the UN committee's report on the rights of the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22969/16]
View answerMy Department coordinates reporting of the actions of all Government Departments in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and it liaises with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. In that capacity, my Department has circulated the UNCRC Concluding Observations, published in February 2016, to all Government Departments for attention regarding recommendations appropriate for consideration and action. These observations include a number of recommendations which engage the areas of responsibility of various Departments.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020), which was launched by the Government in April 2014, is solidly rooted in the principles and values of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Framework contains 163 commitments, from across all policy domains relevant to children and young people, and there are further commitments in allied constituent strategies subsequently brought forward by my Department; such as the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making (2015-2020). As one might expect, there is a significant degree of commonality between these commitments and the recommendations of the UN Committee in its Concluding Observations.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures provides for a robust infrastructure to oversee implementation, which is led by my Department. The Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium is the keystone of the implementation framework, and is responsible for having oversight of cross-government implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures and its constituent strategies.
Since my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have been chairing the Consortium personally. The Consortium is the primary forum for whole of government working in respect of children and young people, and with the other elements of the implementation infrastructure, will drive the progression of the UN Committee’s recommendations. Membership of the Consortium comprises high level representation at Assistant Secretary level from all Government Departments whose policies have an impact on children and young people. It also includes senior representatives from the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána, the City and County Managers Association, the Chair of the Children and Young People’s Services Committees National Steering Group, as well as the Chair and three rotating members of the Advisory Council, established under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. The membership of the Advisory Council, which has an independent chairperson, is drawn from pillars representing the Early Years and Children and Youth sectors and also independent experts.
My Department’s first Child Summit will have its inaugural event in September 2016. This event, which is being hosted by the Children’s Rights Alliance in partnership with my Department, will focus on the Concluding Observations on Ireland under the UNCRC. The purpose of this high-level conference is to examine from various stakeholder perspectives how the recommendations of the UNCRC may be progressed through existing structures and frameworks, in particular through Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures and other departmental strategies. Attendees at the event will include a broad range of stakeholders including representatives of Government departments and non-governmental organisations.
In addition to the arrangements set out above, my Department in exercising its coordination role going forward will consult relevant Departments on a periodic basis regarding plans and actions relating to the Committee’s recommendations.
