Children First Act 2015

The Children First Act 2015 (Act No. 36 of 2015) is an Act of the Oireachtas.

Background
Ireland banned physical punishment against children in Irish schools since 1996.

The European Committee of Social Rights ruled that Ireland had failed to remedy Article 17 (the right of mothers and children to social and economic protection) by prohibiting corporal punishment of children.

The Minister for Justice committed to legislate to bring Ireland into 'full compliance' with the ruling.

Commencement of the law
On 11 December 2015, the provision to ban smacking came into force.

Impact
In 2020, Ireland was noted as still having a 'relatively high' acceptance of slapping children despite the ban on smacking.