> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.storieswithin.ie/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Could Children’s Rights Finally Become Part of Irish Law? - URL: https://www.storieswithin.ie/could-childrens-rights-finally-become-part-of-irish-law/ - Published: 2026-09-30T10:02:10.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-17T11:25:09.000Z - Description: Ireland has made significant promises to protect its children. But how far have those promises translated into meaningful rights, and what more must be done to ensure every child's voice is heard? - Author: April Kavanagh née Plant - Tags: News The Ombudsman for Children is calling for the full incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Irish law. But what would that actually mean for children in Ireland? Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992\. More than three decades later, however, the Convention has still not been fully and directly incorporated into Irish law. The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is now campaigning for that to change through its [**Follow Through on 42**](https://www.oco.ie/childrens-rights/un-convention/follow-through-on-42/?ref=storieswithin.ie) campaign, referring to the 42 rights contained in the Convention. ## What Is the UNCRC? The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out fundamental rights that should be enjoyed by every child. They cover areas including a child's right to education, healthcare, protection from violence and abuse, family life, development, equality and having their views heard in decisions that affect them. Ireland's ratification of the Convention in 1992 represented a commitment to uphold those rights. But ratification and incorporation into Irish law are not the same thing. ## What's Happening Now? The Ombudsman for Children is calling for the **full and direct incorporation of the UNCRC into Irish law**. At present, elements of the Convention are reflected in different pieces of Irish legislation, but the Convention itself does not have full legal status in Ireland. According to the Ombudsman for Children, this means government departments, public bodies and courts are not generally required to apply the rights contained in the UNCRC simply because they appear in the Convention. Full incorporation would mean bringing the complete Convention into Irish legislation rather than relying on individual rights being incorporated separately. Direct incorporation would mean that the Convention's legal text could be directly applied by Irish courts. Importantly, the Ombudsman says this could be achieved through legislation passed by the Oireachtas and would not require another constitutional referendum. ## Why Could This Matter? The difference may sound technical, but its consequences could be very practical. Children interact with public services throughout their lives — through schools, healthcare, housing, disability services, child protection and the care system. The Ombudsman argues that incorporation would require children's rights to be considered from the beginning when laws, policies and major decisions affecting children are developed. It could also strengthen accountability when children's rights are not respected. This may be particularly significant for children experiencing some of the greatest challenges: children in care, children experiencing homelessness or poverty, children with disabilities and children whose voices can easily become lost within large systems. --- ## Why Is This Being Discussed Now? The Ombudsman for Children has made full and direct incorporation one of its key priorities. In its 2025 Annual Report, published in May 2026, the Office reported receiving **1,778 complaints about children's public services during 2025**. Education accounted for 31% of complaints, Tusla for 20% and health services for 14%. The Ombudsman has argued that recurring problems involving housing, disability services, education, healthcare and the care system demonstrate why children's rights need stronger and more consistent protection. In June 2026, children's commissioners and ombudsmen from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Jersey also issued a joint statement supporting full and direct incorporation of the UNCRC into domestic law across their respective jurisdictions. --- ## A Development Worth Following For Stories Within, this is an issue I will be following closely. Many of the stories explored here concern what happens when children are living through circumstances they did not create and decisions about their lives are being made by adults and institutions around them. Understanding what rights children have — and whether those rights can genuinely be relied upon — matters. The discussion around incorporating the UNCRC asks an important question: **What would change if children's rights were not simply something we promised to respect, but something consistently embedded in the laws and decisions that shape their lives?** --- ## Find Out More The Ombudsman for Children has published detailed information about its **Follow Through on 42** campaign and what full and direct incorporation could mean for children in Ireland. [Ombudsman for Children — Follow Through on 42](https://www.oco.ie/childrens-rights/un-convention/follow-through-on-42/?ref=storieswithin.ie) *Stories Within is an independent personal writing and advocacy website. Coverage of an organisation or campaign does not imply sponsorship, endorsement or formal affiliation.*