Children's group calls for ban on smacking children

The Children's Rights Alliance is renewing its call for the Government to introduce a ban on smacking children.

It comes following a complaint by children's groups to the Council of Europe that "reasonable chastisement" is a breach of young people's rights.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has a month to respond to the letter from the Children's Rights Alliance.

The group said new legislation should be introduced without delay to outlaw what it describes as "violence against children".