Representatives of childcare groups who met the Minister of State Ms Liz O'Donnell yesterday say they are "outraged" at the dropping of plans to appoint an ombudsman for children.
The creation of such an office was announced by the then Minister of State for Health, Mr Austin Currie, more than a year ago but has been dropped by his successor Mr Frank Fahy.
Ms O'Donnell is to lead a Government delegation to Geneva on Monday to answer questions from a United Nations committee on its record in relation to children's rights.