Child protection - Time to put vexed rights issue to bed

THERE is an inescapable perception that Ireland is still inclined to drag its feet on the vexed issue of children’s rights.

Critics of Government delays in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Ireland 14 years ago, will give a guarded welcome to the belated pledge from Children’s Minister Brian Lenihan to review the rights of children under the Constitution. Yet, there was a worrying note of caution about his address to the UN committee in Geneva which is scrutinising Ireland’s lack of progress in implementing the convention.

The minister stresses the need for care in his article-by-article examination of the Constitution as it impacts on children. It is vital, however, that this emphasis on ‘care’ does not result in issues like child poverty, obesity, alcohol abuse, school drop-out, or the protection of children in court scenarios, being long-fingered by this dilatory administration.

The constitutional rights of Irish children must be copper-fastened — and fast-tracked.