The Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon has called for the Government to fully incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Irish law.
While launching a book in Sligo this afternoon, Mr Muldoon told RTÉ News that the rights of some children in disadvantaged situations are not being fulfilled.
He said this was part of the reason why his office is calling for the incorporation of the UN treaty into Irish law.
The Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) was set up in 2004 to promote and protect the rights of all children.
The OCO investigates complaints about services provided to children by public organisations.
This afternoon, Dr Muldoon launched 'The Keeper of Rights’ or ‘Coiméadaí na gCeart’ - a bilingual book by children for children about the role of his Office in the Yeats Building.
A group of children from different backgrounds in Sligo wrote and illustrated the book in conjunction with the 'Kid’s Own' publishing company.
It will be distributed to national schools and libraries nationwide. Many of the children who contributed to the book spoke of their pride in the publication.
Rihanna Stokes from St Edward's NS in Sligo who contributed to the book said it was important that children understand that they are "not alone".
Separately, Dr Muldoon said that it was "unconscionable that children’s lives were put at risk during an arson attack last weekend".
He said there is "a duty on the State, and us all, to ensure that all human beings who arrive in Ireland, including children, are treated with dignity and that they are safe".
He said any conversations that are taking place at a Governmental or societal level about immigration must include a focus on the principal of respect for human life.
"We were lucky that children and families did not die at the weekend but make no mistake what we are seeing in this arson attack is the ultimate working out of the narrative of hatred toward immigrants - we cannot let that be the case.
"Ireland should be a country where every child is safe going to bed at night."
