Children's Rights

New legislation is required to protect the rights of children in cases of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) and surrogacy, a new report has recommended. The government has published a review by Professor Conor O'Mahony, special rapporteur on child protection, of children's rights and best int

It should be mandatory for children detained by gardaí to receive legal advice from specialist solicitors, a landmark study commissioned by the Policing Authority has suggested. A first-of-its-kind study into children's experiences of their rights during police questioning in Ireland has been

Children's Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon has been reappointed for a further six-year term. The statutory ombudsman promotes the rights and welfare of children; examines and investigates complaints about services provided to children and young people; and provides advice regarding children's rights and

Courts considering medical treatment for a child must balance and protect their constitutional rights as a child, with due regard to the rights of their parents, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has reaffirmed. The human rights watchdog has published its legal submissions to the Suprem

Family law issues have remained the dominant theme of calls to the Children's Rights Alliance helpline in its second year, revealing a "serious gap" in the family law system. The organisation established the helpline and free legal advice clinics in 2018 to ensure that all children have access to fr

It would be "a tragedy" if proposals to scrap the Department of Children and Young People (DCYA) go ahead, former Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness has said. The accomplished Belfast-born barrister and judge, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2006, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that s

Proposals to scrap the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) have been met with opposition from 60 children and youth organisations. An internal Fianna Fáil paper seen by the Business Post reportedly proposes the abolition of the DCYA to make way for a new Department of Higher Educa

The President of the UK Supreme Court has visited Belfast, where she discussed children's rights. Lady Hale talked about the criticism levelled at the UK Government's record on supporting disabled children, the Belfast Telegraph reports.