The Ombudsman for Children has recommended that the Constitution be amended to give greater protection to the rights of minors.
In her submission to the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, Emily Logan says the welfare of the child must be safeguarded.
She says that anyone under the age of 18 must have the opportunity to be heard in legal or administrative issues affecting them.
In her first public submission since her office was created a year ago, the Ombudsman has called on the committee to consider the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when defining rights.
