Responding to the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration scrutiny of the general scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024, Dr Louise Forde of Brunel University of London submitted written evidence with her colleague Prof. Ursula Kilkelly (University College Cork). Louise was invited to follow this up with oral evidence to the Joint Committee.
Louise and Ursula’s evidence focussed on bringing Ireland’s framework for youth justice further into line with their international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC. Whilst she acknowledged that the existing Children Act is largely considered progressive, Louise highlighted the following areas for improvement in her opening statement to the committee:
- Taking steps to ensure that children below the age of 18 when crimes are committed are not prosecuted as adult offenders, without exception
- Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14
- Strengthening measures for children leaving the justice system
- Increased reference to UNCRC principles within the legislation
- Consideration of extending Children Act provisions to young adults.
See the debate video and report here
Note that Dr Forde’s opening statement is p7 to 9 of the report and 41 minutes in the video.