Ombudsman for Children urges speedy changes to legislation to protect children in Direct Provision

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, has welcomed the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald’s confirmation of her commitment to extend the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to include access for children in Direct Provision centres, but has called for urgency in bringing this change into being.

“I am very much encouraged by Minister Fitzgerald’s renewed commitment to extend the remit of this Office to include access for children in Direct Provision. However, the relevant changes to legislation must be made without delay to protect children in Direct Provision.

“Earlier this year, I raised the issue of children in Direct Provision in Geneva at a meeting of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The committee recommended that the State should consider amending the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 so that my Office can investigate complaints from children in a refugee,asylum-seeking and/or irregular migration situation.

“Implementation of these recommendations will give children living in Direct Provision the same access to my Office as all other children living in Ireland. This will enable my Office to make a constructive contribution to the overall welfare of children living in Direct Provision accommodation.

“I know that amending the legislation to allow this change to take place is a priority for the Minister of Justice and I look forward to working with her Department over the weeks ahead to assist in this process. I also welcome the Minister’s report about the implementation of other recommendations from the McMahon Working Group and I urge her to keep progressing these as a matter of urgency so that all those in Direct Provision, especially the children and young people, can be assured of access to their full and proper rights.”

ENDS

Contact:
Aoife Carragher
Ombudsman for Children’s Office
01 865 6806 / 087 148 4173

Notes to Editor

• The Ombudsman for Children’s Office is an independent statutory body with an overall mandate to promote the rights and welfare of children under the age of 18 living in Ireland.
• Among the Ombudsman for Children’s core statutory functions is the independent and impartial investigation of complaints made by, or on behalf of, children in relation to public bodies, as well as organisations providing services on behalf of the State.

• 17 June 2016
• Type: Press Release