Dr. Niall Muldoon recently visited the Alders CHI Unit. It is vital to shine a light on the sensitive, essential work being done to support children and families navigating the trauma of sexual abuse.
Dr. Niall Muldoon recently
visited the Alders CHI Unit. It is vital to shine a light on the sensitive, essential work being done to support children and families navigating the trauma of sexual abuse.
Dr Niall Muldoon was the keynote speaker at the launch of a new report from Mercy Law Resource Centre, Family Homelessness and the Law. The report highlights the stark reality facing families across Ireland, with over 5,000 children currently living in emergency accommodation.
Dr Niall Muldoon was the keynote speaker at the launch of a new report from Mercy Law Resource Centre, Family Homelessness and the Law.
The report highlights the stark reality facing families across Ireland, with over 5,000 children currently living in emergency accommodation.
Did you catch Dr. Niall Muldoon on @newstalkfm.bsky.social ?
Niall spoke with Pat Kenny about the "harsh realities" facing children in care.
If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen back to the full interview now.
🔗 Listen back here:
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/the...
Tugann tuarascáil nua ó Oifig an Ombudsman do Leanaí (OCO) léargas ar mhéid iomlán na géarchéime ar fud chóras cúraim leanaí na hÉireann.
Léigh an tuarascáil iomlán ar shuíomh Gréasáin an OCO:
www.oco.ie/library/lets...
What does the care system actually look like for a child in Ireland today?
With nearly 6,000 children in care, we have a massive opportunity right now to fix the system and finally get it right.
You can read our new report into the Irish care system on www.OCO.ie
youtu.be/4K6u1FRIvCw
With the release of our new Children in Care report, we want to remind you that we are here to help.
If you are a child, young person, parent or advocate and have a concern, complaint or question, please get in touch.
You can contact us through our website at www.oco.ie
Did you catch Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon on @rteradio1.bsky.social
He spoke with Rachael English on the News at One about our latest report Let's Get It Right - A rights-based vision for children in care.
🔗 Listen back to the interview here:
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
What is life like for children in care in Ireland today? Let’s Get it Right- A rights-based vision for children in care is our new report which reveals a system under pressure. Watch the full video in the below link to hear the harsh realities for some children in care.
What is life like for children in care in Ireland today?
Let’s Get it Right- A rights-based vision for children in care is our new report which reveals a system under pressure.
Watch the full video in the below link to hear the harsh realities for some children in care.
www.oco.ie/news/childre...
Our new report, Let’s Get it Right - A Rights-Based Vision for Children in Care highlights a system under pressure. With nearly 6,000 children currently in State care, we are seeing a crisis marked by underfunding and profound breaches of children’s rights.
Our new report, Let’s Get it Right - A Rights-Based Vision for Children in Care highlights a system under pressure.
With nearly 6,000 children currently in State care, we are seeing a crisis marked by underfunding and profound breaches of children’s rights.
www.oco.ie/library/lets...
Bhí lá iontach ag an OCO ag Ionad Comhdhála Bhaile Átha Cliath don chéad Fís 2026.
Tá an ceart ag gach leanbh ar a dteanga agus a gcultúr. Ag Fís 2026 bhí sé iontach an ceart sin a cheiliúradh.
#Fís26 #Fís #Seachtainnagaeilge #SnaG26
We were delighted to support the National Young Carers Conference at @ucddublin.bsky.social on Saturday, a really special day dedicated to recognising the experiences and voices of young carers.
Highlights from the day below which featured a keynote speech from @president.ie
The OCO was delighted to welcome President Catherine Connolly to the National Young Carers Conference at UCD this weekend.
President Connolly spoke of her admiration for young carers and the need for them to be properly supported.
@president.ie @gov.ie
February was another busy month at the OCO.
We took part in important national events to key conversations in Brussels on children’s rights across Europe. Plus, we marked significant dates such as Safer Internet Day and Care Day 2026.
Below is our lightning look-back.
📢 Systems Upgrade Alert The OCO Complaints team will be offline for one week from Saturday 7th March 2026 to Friday 13th March 2026. 📧 For urgent matters email oco@oco.ie Thank you for your patience!
📢 Systems Upgrade Alert
The OCO Complaints team will be offline for one week from Saturday 7th March 2026 to Friday 13th March 2026.
📧 For urgent matters email oco@oco.ie
Thank you for your patience!
The OCO has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) to strengthen how we work together for children and young people across Ireland. The new agreement means closer collaboration, clearer roles, and better sharing of knowledge between our organisations. By working more closely, we can help improve health and social care services, make it easier for families to understand who does what, and ensure children’s rights stay front and centre. When organisations work together, children benefit.
The OCO has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) to strengthen how we work together for children and young people across Ireland.
The new agreement means closer collaboration and better sharing of knowledge between our organisations.
IMAGE: The OCO at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters.
IMAGE: The OCO at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters.
IMAGE: The OCO at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters.
Today the Ombudsman for Children’s Office is appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters to share our observations on the proposed Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Read our opening statement to the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters.
www.oco.ie/news/oireach...
IMAGE: Dr. Niall Muldoon’s visit to Bracken Educate Together National School to meet the OCO School Ambassadors. DETAILS OF VISIT: Dr. Niall Muldoon met Emma Bellew’s 6th class to hear how they’ve been learning about children’s rights and putting them into practice across the school. They spoke about what rights mean to them, how they are sharing that message with other students, and why being heard really matters. It was a great reminder that when young people are given the space to lead, they take it seriously.
IMAGE: Dr. Niall Muldoon’s visit to Bracken Educate Together National School to meet the OCO School Ambassadors. DETAILS OF VISIT: Dr. Niall Muldoon met Emma Bellew’s 6th class to hear how they’ve been learning about children’s rights and putting them into practice across the school. They spoke about what rights mean to them, how they are sharing that message with other students, and why being heard really matters. It was a great reminder that when young people are given the space to lead, they take it seriously.
IMAGE: Dr. Niall Muldoon’s visit to Bracken Educate Together National School to meet the OCO School Ambassadors. DETAILS OF VISIT: Dr. Niall Muldoon met Emma Bellew’s 6th class to hear how they’ve been learning about children’s rights and putting them into practice across the school. They spoke about what rights mean to them, how they are sharing that message with other students, and why being heard really matters. It was a great reminder that when young people are given the space to lead, they take it seriously.
IMAGE: Dr. Niall Muldoon’s visit to Bracken Educate Together National School to meet the OCO School Ambassadors. DETAILS OF VISIT: Dr. Niall Muldoon met Emma Bellew’s 6th class to hear how they’ve been learning about children’s rights and putting them into practice across the school. They spoke about what rights mean to them, how they are sharing that message with other students, and why being heard really matters. It was a great reminder that when young people are given the space to lead, they take it seriously.
We spent the morning with our OCO School Ambassadors at Bracken Educate Together National School 👏
Dr. Niall Muldoon met Emma Bellew’s 6th class to hear how they’ve been learning about children’s rights and putting them into practice across the school.
#ocoireland #childrensrights #uncrc
The International Protection Bill will have a big impact on children arriving in Ireland seeking safety.
The OCO is concerned that, as it stands, the Bill does not fully protect their rights.
Check out our video below to learn more and visit our website oco.ie to read our concerns in more detail.
IMAGE: actor Alisha Weir in a recording booth for the audiobook The Keeper of Rights. The social media post highlights the release of the audiobook and its availability on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
🎧 The Keeper of Rights audiobook is here!
📖✨ Voiced by Matilda star Alisha Weir, the book helps children learn about their rights and the role of the Ombudsman in a clear and accessible way 📖
⬇️ Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/t...
IMAGE: Hands from a family holding a red love heart. The text reads Care Day 2026. Every Child Has the Right to Thrive. Thanks to those who stand beside them. DETAILS OF SOCIAL MEDIA POST: On Care Day 2026, we are celebrating children and young people in care, along with the many people who support them each day. All children have the right to thrive, and being in care does not change that. Children in care have the same rights, hopes and potential as their peers, and with the right support around them, they can grow and succeed. Care Day reminds us why putting children’s rights first matters.
On Care Day2026, we are celebrating children and young people in care, along with the many people who support them each day.
All children have the right to thrive, and being in care does not change that.
#CareDay2026 reminds us why putting children’s rights first matters.
@epiconline.ie
IMAGE: Cover of the document for the OCO's Observations on the Minister’s Amendments to the International Protection Bill 2026
The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is concerned by the Minister for Justice’s proposed amendments to the International Protection Bill 2026.
To learn more, read our analysis on our website below:
www.oco.ie/library/chan...
IMAGE: National Young Carer Conference poster. DETAILS: The OCO is really proud to be supporting this year’s National Young Carer Conference 2026 at O Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, with President Catherine Connolly joining young carers and advocates for the day.
The OCO is really proud to be supporting this year’s National Young Carer Conference 2026 at O Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, with President Catherine Connolly joining young carers and advocates for the day.
Reserve your place in the link below:
www.eventbrite.ie/e/national-y...
Yesterday, Dr Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children, spoke at two important national events in Portlaoise: the ETBI National Symposium Let’s Talk Ethos and the Irish Association of Social Workers Empowering Voices conference.
Watch Niall’s message to learn more.
IMAGE: OCO's Head of Policy Tricia Keilthy and Ombudsman for Children, Niall Muldoon outside Leinster House. DETAILS: The Government’s new child and family homelessness action plan took centre stage at discussions between the OCO and the Department of Housing and Department of an Taoiseach this week. This was a great opportunity to put forward our priorities from a children’s rights perspective. The OCO, along with other organisations working directly with homeless families, have long been calling for a specific plan for children in measures to tackle the homeless crisis. We hope this is a turning point to ending child homelessness and look forward to continued engagement as the plan is developed and put in place.
This week, we met with the Department of Housing and Department of an Taoiseach to discuss the new child and family homelessness action plan.
We have long called for a clear, child focused approach to tackling homelessness.
We hope this marks a real turning point for children.
IMAGE: Cover of the submission to the the Ombudsman for Children’s Office amendments to the International Protection Bill 2026. DETAILS: The International Protection Bill 2026 is moving through the Oireachtas at pace, with Committee Stage due to commence next Wednesday, 18 February. As drafted, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is concerned the legislation does not provide sufficient safeguards for migrant children arriving in Ireland.
The OCO is concerned the International Protection Bill 2026, as drafted, does not provide sufficient safeguards for migrant and asylum-seeking children arriving in the State.
We have identified three priority areas which require urgent attention:
www.oco.ie/library/oco-...
It’s #SaferInternetDay! 🌐✨
To celebrate, we caught up with our brilliant School Ambassadors from Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire in Co. Louth to talk about life online.
Let’s all follow the lead of Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire: Be kind online.
IMAGE: Girl on phone DETAILS OF POST: It’s Safer Internet Day, a good time to remember that children have just as many rights online as they do offline. If you want to learn more about children’s rights and how they work, visit our website OCO.ie #SaferInternetDay #OCOIreland #SaferInternetDay2026
It’s Safer Internet Day, a good time to remember that children have just as many rights online as they do offline.
If you want to learn more about children’s rights and how they work, visit our website OCO.ie
#SaferInternetDay #OCOIreland #SaferInternetDay2026
Dr Niall Muldoon was in Brussels this week for key conversations on children’s rights across Europe.
He joined the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children Bureau - all working towards one goal. Better protection and real progress for children across Europe. 💛
IMAGE: Dr. Niall Muldoon with Chris Quinn (NICCY), Tanya Ward (President of Eurochild) and Seamus Power (President of the European Economic and Social Committee)
IMAGES: Dr. Niall Muldoon in Brussels for the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children meeting for a roundtable event called Joining Forces: strengthening cooperation for children’s rights in Europe.
Progress for children is never built alone.
During his visit to Brussels, Dr Niall Muldoon spent time with colleagues and partners who are working every day to strengthen children’s rights across Europe.
January gave us three important reminders of why children’s voices matter.
Three moments. One shared purpose.
