Assertion of children's rights seen as essential Geneva

At the end of a two-day hearing here yesterday, members of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child gave their "preliminary observations" on Ireland's record, with a broad welcome for the seriousness with which Dublin had taken its responsibility in reporting to the committee.

However, the Government also faced some specific criticism. The Swedish representative, Ms Lisbet Palme, a child psychologist and widow of the murdered former prime minister, Olof Palme, rejected the suggestion that cost factors meant it would be impossible to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12.

"It is a concern of mine that it cannot be more expensive to deal with a child in a social rather than a criminal context," she said. "Children must be seen as victims, not offenders."

The indications were that the committee's recommendations to the Government would highlight the need for better co-ordination and monitoring of child-care provisions. The removal of the legal basis for corporal punishment, a constitutional amendment upholding the rights of the child and greater consultation of children on policies affecting them are also likely to be recommended.

But the strongest message was that policy should move from a "patronising" welfare-based approach in response to emergencies to one based on a positive assertion of the rights of the child.

The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, acknowledging the constructive nature of the hearings, said the recommendations would provide "a valuable stimulus in the work that lies ahead".

But Ms Madeleine Clarke, of the Children's Rights Alliance (CRA), an umbrella group of 60 concerned organisations, expressed reservations about the Government's intentions.

The CRA was deeply disappointed, Ms Clarke said, that, despite assurances by Ms O'Donnell at the committee on Monday on the independence of a new social services inspectorate, it was now clear that the inspectorate would be based in, and drawn from, the Department of Health.

The committee is likely to give a strong endorsement to the CRA's call for the establishment of a mechanism like an ombudsman for children. A South African committee member, Ms Queen Mokhuane, said the Government must recognise that consultation with children was "fundamental to the implementation of the convention", a point echoed by a Brazilian member, Ms Marilia Sardenberg. Ms O'Donnell argued that in recent years a new mood of openness and accountability had "shone light in dark corners" of Irish society. "Children are not afraid to speak out," she claimed. Several members also expressed bewilderment at the persistence of high levels of child poverty in a country which was apparently so economically successful.

But there was strong praise from the Italian delegate, Mr Francesco Fulci, for Irish legislation against the sexual exploitation of children which, he said, was "leading the world".

Later the Minister attended the lpublication by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, of a UNICEF Guide to the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The 10-member UN committee is charged with monitoring the implementation of the 1989 convention, to which 191 states have signed up.