19th October 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Green Party says Children’s Rights must be made explicit in Constitution Review

The Green Party has welcomed the decision of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution to examine the rights of children. However it has expressed concern that the rights of children should be seen as fundamental rights, rather than being dependent on the rights of others.

The Committee has indicated that it will undertake a study of children’s rights in the context of an examination of the place of the family in the Constitution. This follows a long-standing request from the Department of Health and Children to consider a constitutional amendment to underpin the individual rights of children.

The Green Party’s Justice Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said today: “We’re hoping that this Committee will enshrine the fundamental rights of children within the Constitution. This would help Ireland to comply with our obligations under the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

“Parents are responsible for protecting their children's rights, and these rights and obligations should be made explicit in the Constitution.

“We will also be proposing the some of the out-dated concepts in this part of the Constitution are dropped. For instance Article 41.2 states that ‘mothers should not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home’. This Article needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century.”

“The nature of the Irish Family is changing rapidly. I hope that the Committee would also recommend:

-          Allowing those of the same sex to marry;

-          recognising the rights and duties of Cohabitees, as well as

-          establishing the fundamental rights of children.

The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution intends conducting its review of the Articles in the Constitution dealing with the family over the coming months. It proposes to hold meetings with interest groups and interested public bodies.

ENDS