The Children’s Rights Alliance warmly welcomes today’s Cabinet announcement that our Founding Patron, Prof. Geoffrey Shannon has been re-appointed as Special Rapporteur on Child Protection for a further three years. This Cabinet decision will allow Prof. Shannon to continue in his expert advisory role to Government on a wide range of child protection and welfare issues. 

 

Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, says: “We are very pleased that the Cabinet has made this shrewd decision to renew the contract of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection for three more years. Prof. Shannon role is absolutely critical in advising the Government on what it must do to keep children safe. 

 

For just shy of a decade, we have witnessed Prof. Shannon’s excellent reporting on child protection and welfare. Each year, his reports provide a detailed roadmap of what the Government needs to do to protect children. Under his watch, monumental developments have been recommended and achieved. This includes the creation of Tusla – the Child and Family Agency as well as the passing of vital legislation to protect and empower children – on Children First, vetting and in family and child care law. 

 

Ireland still has a lot to do to keep children safe and huge gaps remain. Child victims going through the courts, homeless children and refugee children have acute child protection and welfare needs that must be addressed.  

 

We look forward to the publication of the forthcoming ninth Special Rapporteur’s Report in the coming months. This renewed position, announced today, demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensure that Ireland’s fledgling child protection system is nurtured properly. As always, the challenge for Government now will be to prioritise Prof. Shannon’s vital recommendations, and to provide the budget and action plans necessary to ensure they come to fruition.”

 

 

 

• Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance is available for interview

• Prof. Geoffrey Shannon is the Children’s Rights Alliance Founding Patron