The vision of the Children’s Rights Alliance is that Ireland will be one of the best places in the world to be a child.  However, a key stumbling block to the fulfilment of this vision is the considerable gap between the rhetoric and reality of respecting and realising children’s rights In Ireland.
 
Each year, the Irish State judges the performance of our children through the Junior Certificate and Leaving certificate examinations – and these grades are carried with them throughout their lives.  Similarly, at the beginning of each year, through our annual Report Card, we offer our judgement on the performance of the Irish Government in its implementation of its own commitments to children.
 

(Alliance Chief Executive Tanya Ward launches Report Card 2013 with Billy and Scarlett)

The Alliance is well placed to develop this analysis; it draws on a wealth of experience through engagement with its over 100 member organisations, most of which work directly with children in Ireland.  The research process is rigorous and the grading subject to independent scrutiny by an external assessment panel.

The first edition of the Report Card series, Report Card 2009, was published in January 2009.  

To date, the Alliance has looked at the Government’s commitments in its own strategic policy documents, such as the Social Partnership Agreement: Towards 2016; the Programme for Government 2007-2012 and the renewed Programme for Government, 2009; the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 and the Ryan Report Implementation Plan, 2009. Continuing its scrutiny of commitments in Report Card 2012, Report Card 2013 looks at the Programme for Government, 2011, and examines commitments that are clear and measureable and that have the potential to improve the lives of all children in Ireland.