Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
120. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement her Department has had with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol of the UNCRC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13303/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and work is ongoing to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible.
As the deputy is aware the Protocol provides that states parties shall prohibit the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. It also obliges these states to participate in the extradition of individuals in relation to these crimes. Importantly, under article 8 of the Protocol, it also protects the rights and interests of child victims including through allowing their views and concerns to be presented and considered; supporting them through the legal process; protecting their privacy; and providing for their safety.
In Irish treaty practice, the State must be in a position to meet all of the obligations it assumes under the terms of an international agreement from the moment it enters into force. Often it will not be possible for the State to meet these obligations without first taking steps required by domestic law, or otherwise, enabling it to do so. As work towards ratification of the protocol continues, the State is obliged to ensure that all legislative provisions are in place for it to meet these obligations.
The Department has been in regular contact with the Office of the Attorney General on this matter.
The Department has recently received confirmation from the Attorney General’s Office that the measures taken are sufficient to overcome barriers to ratification which had been previously identified. The Department will now work with Departments of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and of Foreign Affairs and Trade to prepare the necessary measures required on ratification. Once this work is complete, Government approval will be sought to ratify the Protocol.
