Shatter: Children’s rights referendum set for New Year

JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter yesterday said a referendum on children’s rights would be held “early in the New Year” as he defended Ireland’s human rights record before the United Nations.

Addressing other UN member states in Geneva as part of Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Mr Shatter also outlined legislative proposals aimed at improving human rights, while accepting that there had been “failings in the state protection system”, particularly regarding child clerical sex abuse.

In addition to delivering a speech, Mr Shatter fielded questions from representatives of other member states as part of the three-hour UPR.