The first meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Children met today. Chaired by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, it announced a new children’s parliament called Dáil na nÓg is due to convene in the Autumn.
The committee was set up to co-ordinate the National Children’s Strategy and has staff from the main Government departments that deal with children’s issues. It will support the Minister for Children, Ms Hanafin.
A programme of work was approved at today’s meeting including the development of a National Play and Recreation Policy and the creation of an independent National Children’s Advisory Council to advise the committee.
Ms Hanafin said: "I look forward to nominating children to this Advisory Council, so that their voice can be heard directly."
The measures agreed today as part of the National Children’s Strategy will mean real improvements in the lives of children," she said.