Our representatives were invited, along with other stakeholders, by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to share essential knowledge on the profession’s practical experience of the children's courts and youth justice system. 

The General Scheme aims to fix issues with the juvenile criminal justice system such as ‘aging out’ of the system at 18, where the benefit of the children's court is lost even if the offence was committed while being a child; another issue is the criminalisation of parents for their child's behaviour. 

The Law Society has put forward proposals for further improvements to the General Scheme, such as improving the referrals process, respect of children's rights and updates to the youth diversion programme, an alternative to criminal prosecution for children who have committed criminal behaviour.

Family and child law conference

If you are interested in developments in family and child law practice, as well as meeting other practitioners in this area, book the Law Society’s Family and Child Law Conference 2025. It’s on Friday 14 November, 10am-3pm. CPD is 4.25 hours.

• View details and book online