Two leading children's charities today called for the Government to act urgently after a high-level UN Committee raised concerns over the Constitution's failure to address young people's rights.
As the Irish Government presented its progress report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ISPCC and Barnardos said ministers must ensure all the concerns raised by the review committee are addressed.
A spokeswoman for the ISPCC said: "We welcome the important developments made by the Irish Government to date, and further welcome the commitments that have been given today to further advance all areas of the Convention as soon as possible.
"It is crucial that all the concerns raised today by the UN Committee in Geneva are addressed without delay."
The review committee raised concerns the Irish Constitution does not give express recognition to children's rights. Other issues raised included the low age of criminal responsibility and
housing of juveniles in adult prisons.
Ireland ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992 and under its terms, signatory states must give regular updates on its implementation.
Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan, told the UN Committee real progress had been made on improving the quality of children's lives but he accepted further improvements were needed. He committed the department to ensuring a thorough and speedy review of the rights of children under the Constitution.
"I have embarked upon an examination, on an article by article basis of the provisions of the Constitution as they impact on children," he said.
He said any change to explicitly vindicate children's rights in the Constitution would require a referendum.
"Time and again, the Irish people have demonstrated their attachment to our constitution by rejecting attempts to change it. If referendum were required, we would have to be careful to ensure that the best interests of children prevail in matters which affect them while at the same time achieving the support of the public," he said.
Since the last hearing, seven years ago, Mr Lenihan said the Office of the Ombudsman for Children had been established, a National Children's Strategy published and a Minister for Children sitting at the Cabinet table had been appointed for the first time.
He said over 100,000 children had been lifted out of real poverty over the last seven years.
"Independent economic experts have told us that child benefit is the most effective means of combating child poverty. Accordingly, we have quadrupled child benefit over the last nine years," said the minister.
Barnardos' chief executive Fergus Finlay and director of advocacy Norah Gibbons attended the UN Committee meeting in Geneva.
Barnardos said it was determined to have children's rights recognised and reflected in Government policy, law and the Constitution.
Other concerns raised by the review committee included the lack of a fully funded standardised Guardian ad Litem service. It also brought up issues over the systems in place to deal with accompanied children and separated young people seeking asylum .
There were concerns mentioned about the lack of mental health systems dedicated to children.
Barnardos has been campaigning on the plight of separated minors seeking asylum and inadequate care provisions in operation including the disappearance of children from places of residence.