Sir, – The Children's Rights Alliance welcomes the decision by the Council of Europe which found that Ireland is violating children's rights due to its failure to ban corporal punishment in the home ("Government to consider slapping ban after European ruling", May 27th).
The decision firmly puts the spotlight on Ireland to ban smacking. Up to now, Ireland has permitted corporal punishment of children in the home, which is out of kilter with most other European countries. In recent days, the world has witnessed Ireland’s decision to introduce marriage equality and is now asking, how can children not yet have equal protection in the law?
The decision by the Council of Europe finds that Irish domestic law does not “prohibit and penalise all forms of violence against children within the family, in certain types of care or certain types of preschool settings. This includes acts or behaviour likely to affect their physical integrity, dignity, development or psychological development or wellbeing”.
This is mainly because parents or carers can rely on the common law defence of reasonable chastisement in our laws when disciplining children.
The Children’s Rights Alliance also welcomes the decision by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to ban corporal punishment in foster care and in all childcare settings.
He will also review the common law defence of reasonable chastisement with the Minister for Justice and Equality.
This is a step in the right direction for every child in Ireland. It is important that the Minister provides a timeline for introducing this change and provides support for parenting programmes on alternative forms of disciplining children. – Yours, etc,
TANYA WARD,
Chief Executive,
Children’s Rights Alliance,
Red Cow Lane,
Smithfield,
Dublin 7.