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Child Rapporteur Report a ‘blueprint’ for child protection
“Every Irish policy, regulation and law must have a child focus”
Statement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs,
Dr Katherine Zappone

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, is calling on every part of Government to study and act on 97-recommendations in the Ninth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection.
Minister Zappone says the recommendations by Dr Geoffrey Shannon cover a wide-range of policy areas including justice, education and health.
The Minister also notes that the Government has already taken steps to address some areas of concern, including a radical new approach to childcare, a new sexual offences bill and commitments to combat bullying.
Confirming the publication of the report Minister Zappone said:
“The report of the Child Protection Rapporteur is always an important moment to focus on the need to bring a children’s lens to every area of Government policy.
The report covering 2015 is no different and I have brought its contents and recommendations to the attention of my cabinet colleagues.
While progress has been made on many issues there are others which require action.
Each Minister and Department must take a lead for their own areas of responsibility.
As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have set a course of affordable, accessible childcare, started the process for a complete overhaul of the guardian ad litem scheme as well as measures to combat child homelessness and poverty.
During the past year the very progressive step of removing the defence of reasonable chastisement for parents accused of assaulting children was taken. This makes Ireland the 47th State to ban physical punishment of children.
Dr Shannon’s positive comments in relation to the proposed Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill are welcome but his concerns over child pornography, trafficking and grooming must be reviewed.
I will continue to work with Dr Shannon, Government colleagues and front line agencies to ensure Ireland is a country where children's rights are recognised, respected and protected - constant vigilance is required to achieve this goal”.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The Full Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection can be accessed at www.dcya.gov.ie
Dr. Geoffrey Shannon has served as the Government appointed Child Protection Rapporteur since June 2006. His current term of office extends to July 2019.
The functions of the Special Rapporteur for the purposes of his 2015 report were:
· To keep under review and to audit legal developments for the protection of children;
· To assess what impact, if any, litigation in national and international courts will have on child protection;
· To prepare, annually, a report setting out the results of the previous year’s work. This report will be submitted to the Dáil and Seanad for consideration and debate and be published; and
· To examine, upon request, the scope and application of existing legislative provisions and to make comments/recommendations as appropriate.
All of the reports of the Special Rapporteur have been laid before the Oireachtas and are published on the website of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
In his 2015 Report Dr. Shannon addresses and makes recommendations in relation to the following key areas:
1. Child Protection and Developments in International Law;
2. Domestic developments; and
3. Child Protection and the Criminal Law System.
Dr. Shannon makes 97 recommendations in total, which span a range of Departments, including in particular the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Justice and Equality.