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Children and Youth Affairs Minister Dr James Reilly has today signed the commencement order on the removal of the defence of ‘Reasonable Chastisement’ under section 28 of the Children First Act 2015. The move means that from tomorrow a person who administers corporal punishment to a child will no longer be able to rely of the defence of reasonable chastisement in the courts.

On signing the commencement order today, Minister Reilly said:

The removal of the Common Law defence sends a strong message which will, I hope, lead to a cultural change across Irish society that corporal punishment is wrong. We have not created any new offence but rather we are removing something that has its roots in a completely different era and societal context.

Marta Santos Pais, Special Representative for the UN Secretary General on Violence Against Children, wrote to Minister Reilly, regarding the removal of the defence of Reasonable Chastisement:

In taking this step Ireland is making an important contribution to the global movement towards a world where all children are free from violence. Political support at the highest level is critical to ensuring that sustained progress can be made in combatting violence against children. The steps that Ireland has taken augur well for a change in attitudes and behaviour that will help build a culture in which no form of violence against children is acceptable.