News

Latest News

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  • 24 March 2026
  • Type: Recommendations
  • Topic: Children in Care

  Five ways to strengthen the Child Care Amendment Bill from a Children’s Rights perspective

  Five ways to strengthen the Child Care Amendment Bill from a Children’s Rights perspective   1.     Place a time limit on voluntary care and put in place an independent review process In its 2023 Concluding Observations, ...

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  • 24 March 2026
  • Type: Video & Audio
  • Topic: Children in Care

  Children in Care Report

  What does the care system actually look like for a child in Ireland today?   It’s a tough question, and the answers aren’t always easy to hear. Our caseworker Katie Padden sees the reality every day ...

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  • 24 March 2026
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Children in Care

  OCO report highlights need for a right-based system for children in care

  OCO report highlights need for a rights-based system for children in care “Nobody cares.” “If I was in Government, I would get rid of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs), they are ruining kids’ lives.” “I feel the ...

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  • 4 March 2026
  • Type: Statement
  • Topic: Disability, Education, Health

  Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters Opening Statement by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office

  Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters Opening Statement by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office Wednesday, 4 March 2026 Thank you to the Chairperson and the Committee for inviting the Ombudsman for Children’s Office to provide our ...

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  • 18 February 2026

  OCO statement on proposed social media restrictions for children under 16

  We welcome that Government is taking the need to keep children safe online extremely seriously and is looking at ways to prevent children from accessing harmful content. We know that children themselves want to be able ...

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  • 29 January 2026
  • Type: Statement
  • Topic: Online

  Opening Statement to the Joint Committee on Children and Equality Technology, Social Media and Children

  OPENING STATEMENT Ombudsman for Children’s Office Joint Committee on Children and Equality Technology, social media and children 29th January 2026   Chair and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to address you today ...

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  • 22 January 2026
  • Type: Statement
  • Topic: Child Protection, Education, Health, Housing

  Opening statement: Joint Committee on Children and Equality Child Poverty and Deprivation

  Opening statement Ombudsman for Children’s Office Joint Committee on Children and Equality Child Poverty and Deprivation 22nd January 2026   Thank you to the Committee for inviting the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) to provide our ...

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  • 8 January 2026
  • Type: Statement

  OCO statement on Grok AI concerns

  The OCO is extremely concerned about these issues with Grok and is calling for immediate action to prevent these images being produced and to ensure that children’s rights are fully protected online. We will monitor the ...

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  • 3 December 2025
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Disability, Education, Immigration, Online

  OCO Survey on Extremism, Discrimination and Gender Roles

  Discrimination, extremism and ‘traditional’ gender roles all on the radar for young people in new survey from the OCO   25% say their friends have views that some people would consider extreme 64% of students associate ...

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  • 20 November 2025
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Housing, Immigration

  Housing, Immigration and Extremism – all issues children are talking about at Child Talks 2025 to mark World Children’s Day

  Over 1,000 schoolchildren from around Ireland will descend on the Helix in Dublin tomorrow (November 20th) for Child Talks 2025, the annual World Children’s Day event from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO). Six young speakers ...