20th November 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR CLEMENCY FOR PARENTS OF IRISH CITIZENS

The Green Party today called on the Government to show clemency towards the non-national parents of Irish Citizen children on the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
 
Green Party Justice spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe TD, said, "On the 14th anniversary of the signing of the Convention of the Rights of the Child we appeal to the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell TD to allow the parents of all children born before the Supreme Court decision of 23rd January 2003 to be allowed to remain in the State. We believe that this would be in the best interests of the families and the children's welfare."

"These families should be allowed remain in Ireland" he stated,  "The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child requires that 'the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration' in all decisions affecting children. We
want these children to remain, rather than face a de-facto expulsion with their parents to countries that may treat them as aliens."

The date of 20th November marks the day in which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989. The Assembly also decided that 20th November would mark Universal Children's Day and
should be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children.

Ends