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Enhancing justice for children
Two Law Society recommendations have been adopted in an Oireachtas Justice Committee Report.
Strengthening the Youth Diversion Programme
The General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024 marks an important step toward strengthening Ireland’s juvenile justice framework.
As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the Law Society engaged with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, by providing a detailed written submission and participating in an oral hearing.
We welcomed the General Scheme as a timely opportunity to refine aspects of the Children Act 2001 – particularly those relating to the Youth Diversion Programme.
Targeted amendments
Drawing on practical experience, we highlighted several areas where targeted amendments could enhance transparency, accessibility, and fairness for children and their families.
Communication clarity
The Joint Committee incorporated two of the Law Society’s proposals into its recently published Report on the General Scheme, recommending that:
- A statutory information leaflet or formal notice should be provided to the child and their parents or guardian upon referral to the Youth Diversion Programme. This notice should clearly outline the child’s rights and the main elements of the process in accessible language. It should also explain possible outcomes and the implications of accepting, or not accepting, responsibility.
- Information should be provided verbally to the child and the child’s parents or guardians in a manner appropriate to the child’s age and level of understanding.
What's next?
As the pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme is now complete, we await the publication of the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
