The persistent failure to provide services for vulnerable children is a recurring theme of these pages.

Both the HSE and Tusla are still falling short when it comes to ensuring adequate services and supports for children with disabilities in the care of the State — a year after a critical report highlighted inadequacies in one particular case.

Under-18s who feel they’re in the wrong body may soon be able to legally change their gender with greater ease, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

The decision by the all-party Oireachtas committee examining Ireland’s abortion law to recommend the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution in its present form has prompted many people to write to The Irish Examiner on the subject.

Childcare providers will receive increased funding to upgrade their facilities and assist with administration costs as part of Budget 2018.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald was accused of throwing a Cabinet colleague “under the bus” and of not being “credible”, after denying she had knowledge about a file on a Garda whistleblower.

A British couple whose baby girl choked to death in a nursery have brought their first-aid campaign to Ireland.

A Minister has claimed that landlords “may not have got a full understanding” of controversial government proposals to address arrears in water charges payments.

Mothers could be allowed to double the amount of leave they take after having a baby and receive extra weeks off if they agree to split the time at home with their partner.

DURING an interview given in advance of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference by the Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran to Newstalk radio yesterday, the Catholic Church’s uncompromising opposition to the idea of same-sex marriage was expressed with an unblinking calm that suggested there can be no compromise on the issue between the Catholic status quo and those who wish to see our Constitution changed to better reflect the reality of the lives we lead.

So long as parents understand that the au pairs are not professionals, that they are supervisors or companions, then it can be inexpensive childcare. But the girl’s personality must suit the family dynamic, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

A Fine Gael backbencher and member of an influential internal party group has insisted Frank Flannery should not return until the Rehab controversy is addressed.

Your spoiler-free guide to the best of tonight's TV.

Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan has been widely welcomed as the new head of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

Enda Kenny will today announce the new minister for justice with much speculation last night pointing to Fine Gael party chairman Charlie Flanagan as the likely successor.

Search ‘neknomination’ or ‘necknomination’ (spelling can vary) on Twitter, Vine, Facebook, or YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos of young people speed-drinking vast quantities of alcohol in response to a dare from friends.

The real-life inspiration behind the film Philomena told a star-studded audience in Hollywood that mothers in Ireland forced to give up their children for adoption have “yet to receive the justice they deserve”.

Cabinet members and the Taoiseach have defended a review of the medical card scheme that is aimed at saving €113m from the Health budget.

Cork pageant mother Stephanie Murphy has confirmed that a substitute venue had finally been sourced for Ireland’s first child beauty pageant today.

A HSE inspection report into childcare centres across the country shows that 75% of them were in breach of regulations last year.

A social networking site linked to the suicides of two teenagers now has more than three times the number of users it had prior to the tragic deaths.

Backbench TDs from both coalition parties were being prepared for a compromise on contentious abortion legislation even as the Taoiseach ruled out a referendum on the issue.

"WE want to see as many of them as possible” — this was the one-line response by a grinning Enda Kenny two years ago, when he was asked if female representation would increase under a Fine Gael government.

Voter turnout in the referendum on children's rights is expected to be low.

Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald has insisted that the Government needs to implement the Household Charge to maintain local services.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has today reiterated her commitment to holding a stand-alone Children's Rights Referendum before the end of the year.

Retrospective information and tracing rights are to be offered in the upcoming Adoption Bill, in a significant U-turn by Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald.

CHILDREN who play football are four times as likely to have a large group of friends than those who enjoy tennis or cricket.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said stricter laws are needed to protect children, following the final chapter of a report into the Catholic Church’s mishandling of allegations of clerical child sex abuse.

The abuse of thousands of innocent children in State and church run institutions in Ireland amounted to torture, a scathing report from Amnesty has found.

DEFENCE solicitors in child abuse cases which go to court are increasingly looking for therapy notes in a bid to “get their client off the hook”, a children’s support group has said.

CHILDREN’S Minister Frances Fitzgerald has expressed concern about the “shortcomings and severe difficulties” experienced by the Catholic Church’s National Board for Safeguarding Children as it tried to investigate child protection in the 26 dioceses.

CHILDREN from Limerick’s regeneration areas will join with the Irish Chamber Orchestra to perform for the Dalai Lama when he visits UL on April 14.

THERE has been a widespread welcome from children’s groups to the announcement by the new Minister for Children that she will be removing child protection services from the HSE and establishing a stand-alone agency.

A REFERENDUM that will enshrine the rights of the child in the Constitution could go before the electorate on general election day, Children’s Minister Barry Andrews said last night.

CHILDREN as young as four are presenting with eating disorders, according to the head of a private clinic which specialises in recovery from anorexia, bulimia and emotional overeating.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews has tonight responded to concerns from the Labour party with regards to the legal status of the EU-IMF loan agreement with Ireland.

Irish people should have the humility to remember they have been through tough times before, a Government minister suggested today.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews has said that he expects disciplinary proceedings involving the care workers involved in the Roscommon child abuse case to begin soon.

More damning failings that led to Baby P’s death will be revealed today with the publication of previously secret official reports.

THE Adoption Board has said it has no intention of inspecting all adoption files held by the HSE and private adoption agencies, despite the HSE admitting some files contain evidence of illegal birth registrations.

HEALTH professionals have highlighted a delay in treating child sex abuse victims because of a lack of coordination among health and justice authorities.

CHILDREN’S rights campaigner and potential presidential candidate Fergus Finlay said he was still “haunted” by a suicide letter that a young father wrote to his 10-year-old son.

A TOP civil servant has been drafted in to take over the running of the Adoption Board following the sudden departure of the chief executive last month.

THE Government and the opposition led the criticisms of the HSE last night after an independent report found serious failures in its approach to children in foster care.

ONE of the country’s top child law experts has called for mandatory minimum sentences for people possessing child pornography or engaged in the sexual grooming of children online.

ADOPTION support groups have received a surge of calls to their helplines following the Irish Examiner’s special investigation into the issue of illegal adoption.