The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, has welcomed the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald\u2019s confirmation of her commitment to extend the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to include access for children in Direct Provision centres, but has called for urgency in bringing this change into being.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very much encouraged by Minister Fitzgerald\u2019s renewed commitment to extend the remit of this Office to include access for children in Direct Provision. However, the relevant changes to legislation must be made without delay to protect children in Direct Provision.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier this year, I raised the issue of children in Direct Provision in Geneva at a meeting of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The committee recommended that the State should consider amending the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 so that my Office can investigate complaints from children in a refugee,asylum-seeking and\/or irregular migration situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cImplementation of these recommendations will give children living in Direct Provision the same access to my Office as all other children living in Ireland. This will enable my Office to make a constructive contribution to the overall welfare of children living in Direct Provision accommodation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that amending the legislation to allow this change to take place is a priority for the Minister of Justice and I look forward to working with her Department over the weeks ahead to assist in this process. I also welcome the Minister\u2019s report about the implementation of other recommendations from the McMahon Working Group and I urge her to keep progressing these as a matter of urgency so that all those in Direct Provision, especially the children and young people, can be assured of access to their full and proper rights.\u201d<\/p>\n
ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact: Notes to Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAoife Carragher
\nOmbudsman for Children\u2019s Office
\n01 865 6806 \/ 087 148 4173<\/p>\n