Submitted by crinadmin on
Children's Ombudsman calls for stronger legislation
The Children’s Ombudsman, Emily Logan, today called for the introduction of stronger legislation on children’s rights.
Speaking at the annual conference of the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC), which is being held in Dublin for the first time, she said: “I will not relent in terms of the best possible legislative solution we can develop for children in Ireland which is strengthening the constitutional position for children."
However Ms Logan said she hoped any future referendum would not be limited to the area of child protection
“Child protection in this country has been a long-standing concern. A lot of people interested in making things better for children want them to be protected, but it’s important the laws that protect them are strong laws and stand up in courts both domestically and internationally.”
Ms Logan also criticised the Health Service Executive (HSE) management over the failure to introduce out-of-hours care for at risk children.
Branding the current daytime social worker service inadequate, the Ombudsman said she wanted to see it replaced by a properly funded 24-hour system.
The HSE last month abandoned plans to introduce out-of-hours on-call care teams and a national call centre blaming financial pressures.
But Ms Logan said she would continue to campaign for the out of hours social work service. “I am a long-standing promoter of a 24-hour service and I don’t think we should relent on that,” she said.
The HSE was criticised over the lack of a 24-hour service after it was revealed a vulnerable teenager was forced to spend the night in a Garda station due to a lack of out-of-hours services.
Ms Logan added: “We’ve seen a number of cases where poor practices have happened as a result of inadequate services available for children. “I don’t think the service we have is adequately funded.”
Ms Logan, who was elected chair of ENOC at the annual conference in Dublin Castle, also warned young immigrants requiring care were receiving second-rate support compared to Irish youngsters.
Earlier, President McAleese opened the three-day annual conference, which is being attended by 32 Ombudsmen for Children Offices from 26 Council of Europe member states as well as international experts and observers.
Mrs McAleese said that Irish society had been opened up rapidly in recent years by migration from around the world, among them many children, who she described as "the human building blocks of tomorrow’s Ireland".
"Their sheer courage and determination is often overlooked or simply taken for granted. We have children who arrive alone on our shores, children who are vulnerable to trafficking and abuse," she said.
"We already know only too well the appalling price paid over a lifetime for a childhood mired in abuse. The story has been told and retold through the tragic lives of many children abused in what were meant to be caring institutions."
She added: "The establishment of Offices of Ombudsman for Children across Europe holds great hope that Europe’s children and young people, especially those most marginalised will be drawn meaningfully into the mainstream, where their problems and perspectives will be taken seriously."
Established in 1997, the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) role is to facilitate the promotion and protection of the rights of children.
[Additional reporting PA]
Further information
pdf: www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0903/breaking22.htmAssociation: Irish Times