The first step towards establishing an Ombudsman for Children was taken today with the publication of a Bill that Minister for Children Ms Hanafin hopes to hurry through the Oireachtas before the upcoming general
election.
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Ms Mary Hanafin
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The Bill proposes to make the office of the Ombudsman an independent body responsible for the rights and welfare of children that will act on complaints about institutions such as schools and health boards.
"The remit of the Ombudsman for Children will cover such public bodies as health boards and local authorities and I am particularly pleased to include schools and hospitals, most of which are classified as voluntary bodies. This should lead to more openness and transparency in the State’s interaction with children," Ms Hanafin said.
"It is envisaged that children, parents or someone with a direct interest, acting on behalf of the child, can make complaints to the office," she told ireland.com.
Complaints against individuals such as parents, teachers, sports coaches, etc, will not be covered by the Ombudsman. "Complaints about the performance of an administrative functions can be investigated," Ms Hanafin said. She also indicated that the Ombudsman could investigate on its own initiative - without receiving a complaint.
Mr Paul Gilligan chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), believes the Bill, if passed, could have significant implications for children’s rights.
He said the Ombudsman would not just act on complaints but would "promote the fact that children have rights as citizens" and support the work of voluntary organisations such as the ISPCC.
With a general election expected to be called in May, the Minister is on a tight schedule if she hopes to get the Bill passed before the dissolution of the Dáil.
However, she says she is hopeful of opposition support, which would help speed its passage. She said opposition parties have calling for the legislation on "an almost weekly basis".
Her hopes for all-party support have been boosted by ISPCC who have echoed the Minsiter's calls for cross-party support.
The Bill comes before the Seanad next week, although the Minister says it will not have passed all stages before the Easter recess and that the timing of the general election could affect its passage.