Press Statement 21 October 2015
Senator van Turnhout welcomes abolition of defence of reasonable chastisement
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
The archaic common law defence “reasonable chastisement” of children finally vanquished to the realms of history
“Whether it is slapping or tapping, shoving or pushing, hitting or beating, the invisible line between “reasonable chastisement” and simply physical violence against children has finally been removed.”
“I was appointed to the Seanad by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny back in 2011 on the basis of my children’s rights work. One of the first objectives I set for my tenure was for Ireland to repeal the defence of reasonable chastisement. On 23 September 2015, I tabled an amendment to the Children First Bill to this effect. Following an anxious wait until today, an historic day for children’s rights in Ireland and for me personally, through a joint amendment with Government we have successfully amended the Children First Bill to secure the abolition of the defence of reasonable chastisement.”
“There must never be a defence for violence against children. I am honoured to have championed and secured the effective ban on the physical punishment of children in Ireland.”
-ENDS-
Notes for the Editor:
Children First Bill, Report Stage, 21 October 2015: jillianvanturnhout.ie/childrenfirstreportstage
Children First Bill, Committee Stage, 23 September 2015: jillianvanturnhout.ie/children-first-bill-corporal-punishment
For More Information, Please Contact:
Senator Jillian van Turnhout, Leader of the Independent Group (Taoiseach’s Nominees) Phone: 01 6183375 e-mail: jillian.vanturnhout@oireachtas.ie