I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 57 together.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Ireland ratified in 1992, states in Article 3 that:“In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.”
I am committed to upholding and guaranteeing this principle, through our legislation and provision of services. Where my Department is not directly responsible for specific services we will continue to liaise with the relevant Department where appropriate to ensure that the rights of children are upheld.
UNCRC
Ireland is required to submit regular state reports on measures taken to give effect to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The process involves considerable preparation and engagement by my Department with other Government Departments and other civil society stakeholders. The four general principles of the UNCRC are:
- that all the rights guaranteed by the Convention must be available to all children without discrimination of any kind (Article 2);
- that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children (Article 3);
- that every child has the right to life, survival and development (Article 6); and
- that the child’s views must be considered and taken into account in all matters affecting him or her (Article 12).
Ireland’s next examination by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is due to take place in May 2022. My Department is currently liaising with other Departments on the 139 separate issues raised by the Committee in their report last November. My Department has also set up an interdepartmental group, with representatives from the following Departments:
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Department of Justice
- Department of Education and Skills
- Department of Health
- Department of Social Protection
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The reporting process involves considerable preparation and engagement with other Government Departments and other civil society stakeholders.
Children First Act 2015
The Children First Act 2015 requires organisations providing services to children to keep children safe and to produce a Child Safeguarding Statement. It also mandated the establishment of the Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group (CFIDIG). Membership of the CFIDIG includes all government departments, Tusla, the HSE and An Garda Síochána. While Departments and agencies are responsible for child protection issues arising in their own sphere of responsibility, the CFIDIG provides a forum at which child safeguarding issues with a cross-departmental focus can be raised as required.
The Child Care Act, 1991
My Department is currently reviewing the Child Care Act, a wide-ranging piece of legislation which, at its core, seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not receive adequate care and protection. Proposals, which will be shortly presented to Government, include embedding the child’s best interests as the paramount principle to be observed in all decisions taken under the Act.
First 5
First 5 is Ireland’s first ever cross-departmental strategy to support babies, young children and their families. It is a Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028
The ambitious ten-year plan will deliver:
- a broader range of options for parents to balance working and caring
- a new model of parenting support
- new developments in child health, including a dedicated child health workforce
- reform of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) system, including a new funding model
- a package of measures to tackle early childhood poverty