Deputy Aodhan ORiordain's Summer Newsletter

O RIORDAIN AODHAN A3 SUMMER NEWS 1984_Layout 1 08/06/2012 14:38 Page 1

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD Summer 2012

2012: A YEAR FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS nd up for its children.

In 2012, Ireland must finally sta ned to make this In government we are determi rld to be a child. country the best place in the wo dum on Children’s As we move towards a Referen I want to lead a Rights at the end of this year, ’s rights locally, conversation about children ng the hashtag nationally and onTwitter usi #paisti2012. se issues further, If you wish to discuss any of the t me. please do not hesitate to contac

Join the discussion #paisti2012

PROTECTING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AT SCHOOL

TACKLING EDUCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE TOGETHER - SEMINAR My experience as a teacher and principal in a disadvantaged primary school in the North Inner City has made me determined to do what I can to eliminate the underlying causes of educational disadvantage. l l l

30% of children in disadvantaged areas have basic literacy difficulties.

The vocabulary gap between children of different socio-economic backgrounds is evident from the age of three years Early intervention is the only way to help communities and families combat this issue.

As vice-chair of the Education , Jobs and Social Protection Committee I am compiling a report dedicated to identifying strategies to combat educational disadvantage at the earliest stage of a child’s development.

As a first step, I am inviting local groups, interested parties and educational leaders to participate in a Workshop on 'Tackling Educational Disadvantage in the Community.' This is a chance to look at community based approaches to eradicating educational disadvantage – and decide how we can act on our ideas.

If you have an interest in attending the workshop please make contact with my office on 01-857-4020 or aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie The Seminar will help to inform the report that will hopefully be adopted by the Oireachtas committee when completed.

EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY TO TEACH THE CHILD An Integrated Approach to Eradicating Educational Disadvantage Venue: Skylon Hotel Drumcondra Dublin 9 Date: Friday July 13th 10am – 1pm Speakers: Representatives from Barnardos, Young Ballymun, NALA

l At present, the state can only intervene to address school

attendance problems when a child is over the age of 6. If a child aged 4 or 5 is failing to attend school on a regular basis, the authorities have no powers to address the problem. l On Thursday 17th May 2012, I introduced my Education

Welfare Amendment Bill to Dáil Éireann. l With this Bill, I am seeking to change the law to include 4

and 5 year old children as well – so the root cause of educational disadvantage is tackled at a much earlier stage.

on i s s u c s i d e h t Join #paisti2012

l The Bill is supported by many children’s rights groups,

including Barnardos.

Dáil Éireann: Leinster House, Dublin 2 t: 01 618 3209

Constituency Office: 203 Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin 3 t: 01 857 4020

e: aodhan.oriordain@oir.ie @AodhanORiordain

0612

CONTACT AODHÁN

O RIORDAIN AODHAN A3 SUMMER NEWS 1984_Layout 1 08/06/2012 14:38 Page 2

MAKING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN 2012 l We have all been shocked by the revelations of the past few years

uncovering the horrific history of child abuse and neglect in this country. l For too long, children have been seen as junior members of our families,

instead of individuals who are entitled to the same constitutional rights as everyone else. l The Government has now committed to holding a stand-alone referendum

on the Rights of the Child to preserve and prioritise the dignity and rights of the child in the Constitution. l I will be campaigning strongly for a Yes vote in this referendum – we now

have an opportunity to learn from the horrors of the past, and to finally live up to the statement in the 1916 Proclamation ‘to cherish all the children of the nation equally.’

LETTING CHILDREN BE CHILDREN What we are talking about is a commercial attack on childhood.

Childhood is becoming much shorter, and this is for the purpose of commercial profit.

What I am hoping is that we will be able to get tough on this and to have strict guidelines for retailers advertisers.

Although and commercial interests are powerful…..we have a responsibility in this House to protect childhood.

-Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Thursday, 15th December 2011, Dáil Éireann l Since my election last year, I have continuously made representationsto the

PUTTING “CHILDREN FIRST” l Over ten years ago, the guidelines Children First: National Guidance for the

Protection and Welfare of Children were published – but they were never made compulsory. l Making these guidelines part of our law was one of the key recommendations

of the Ryan Report in 2009.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on this issue, asking if her department would commit to undertake a comprehensive study into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children. l I have also pressed the Minister to take decisive action to tackle the targeting of

children by large retail companies. l Recently, the Minister confirmed to me that Retail Ireland are preparing guidelines

l Child protection is something which should always have been a priority but

tragically was not. This Government is changing that by proposing the Children First Bill, which will place the guidelines on a statutory footing to ensure that every sector of society takes responsibility for child protection.

BUILDING THE NEW NATIONAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL l Even in difficult economic times, it is vital that this government prioritises the

construction of a new National Children’s Hospital. This project was given the go-ahead in Budget 2012, with €650 million ring-fenced for it in the Capital Programme. l We now need to find a suitable location for our Children’s Hospital. This is a

priority for Labour in government. l An expert Review Group will report back over the summer on the most

suitable location for the new Hospital. With funds already in place, this government is committed to delivering a world class hospital facility for our children.

on the responsible retailing of childrenswear. This is a first step in ensuring that childhood is protected and not exploited for commercial gain.

STARTING A DISCUSSION ON JUNIOR CERTIFICATE REFORM #JCREFORM l Anyone who has been through the education system in Ireland knows it is in need of

serious reform. However, those who are currently in the system are best placed to give us their insights on what needs to be done to improve it. l Since my election in February 2011, I have visited almost every secondary school in

my constituency to meet with students and discuss their ideas about the education system with them. l In Manor House, Chanel College, Dominican College, Rosmini, Holy Faith Clontarf,

Holy Faith Killester, and Mount Temple, Transition Year students engaged with me about this government’s reform agenda in education and gave me ideas on how we can improve and strengthen the Junior Cert. l I am also encouraging students to get active in a broader conversation regarding

Junior Cert reform through FaceBook and Twitter (hashtag #JCReform)

ENDING THE DETENTION OF CHILDREN IN ST. PATRICK’S INSTITUTION l For over 25 years, international and domestic human and children’s rights

groups have criticised the practice of sending young offenders to St. Patrick’s Institution. l Although the prison caters for children, it is effectively an adult regime and

children can be locked in their cells for many hours in the day. This has been condemned by the UN Committee Against Torture which called for a new facility to accommodate children to be built by the government. l In April, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced that, within

three years, no children will be held in St. Patrick's Institution. Instead, €50m will be spent developing the National Children Detention Facility in Oberstown. l Rehabilitating young offenders is an essential step in breaking the cycle of

criminality and disadvantage that colours so many young people’s lives. This government is committed to achieving that goal.

Dáil Éireann: Leinster House, Dublin 2 t: 01 618 3209

LITERACY IS THE GREAT LIBERATOR l For Ireland to be truly democratic, I believe that each citizen needs to be given the

skills of reading and writing in order to have the chance to fully participate in society. l Literacy is fundamentally a matter of equality and empowerment. As a Deputy

Lord mayor of Dublin in 2006 I launched the “Right to Read” campaign which succeeded in achieving increased investment in the City’s library service and in creating new ‘learning zones’ for school children. l A recent OECD report revealed that in this country, one in four adults of working

age have problems with even the simplest of literacy tasks. l The National Literacy Strategy launched last July is a strong statement of priority

from Labour in government as to what we want to achieve for our young people. l I am continuing to work closely with Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn to embed

this strategy throughout all government agencies to create a national movement on literacy that is the responsibility of all to implement.

YOUR LOCAL LABOUR TEAM

Constituency Office: 203 Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin 3 t: 01 857 4020 e: aodhan.oriordain@oir.ie @AodhanORiordain

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD

Cllr Jane Horgan Jones Cllr Brian McDowell

Cllr Andrew Montague Cllr Paddy Bourke

Clontarf Ward Donaghmede Ward 086 837 5219 087 222 1628 horganjones.jane@gmail.com brian.mcdowell@labour.ie

Artane Ward Artane Ward 087 908 0409 087 286 2558 andrewmontague@eircom.net pbourkelabour@eircom.net