The Government has approved publication of the annual report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Professor Conor O’Mahony.
This is the first report to be submitted by Professor O’Mahony, who was appointed to the position of Special Rapporteur in July 2019. Overall, it is the 13th Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and it relates to developments for the year 2019.
The report considers the findings of relevant reports of national and international bodies published during 2019, as well as developments in international law, national court decisions and academic research during 2019. It also examines in detail a number of aspects of the Child Care Act 1991, which is currently under review by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., who submitted the report to Government, said the report of the Special Rapporteur covers a wide range of policy areas and that relevant Departments and Agencies would now be reviewing the contents and recommendations set out in it. He noted the particular focus on the review of the Child Care Act 1991 and said that his Department is considering these recommendations in detail and is currently engaging with other relevant Departments on some of the key recommendations for reform of the Act.
Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman said:
“The reports of the Special Rapporteur provide important input to the development and review of child protection policy and legislation as well as an objective and independent expert view of the child protection system in Ireland. I welcome this first report from Professor Conor O’Mahony in his role as Special Rapporteur, which has a timely focus on three areas relevant to the review of the Child Care Act 1991. The Special Rapporteur’s report is a very significant and valuable contribution to the review of the primary piece of legislation regulating child care and child protection policy in Ireland. My Department is considering each of the relevant recommendations in detail and will be working with colleagues across Government to progress some of the key recommendations for reform.”