“It is important for every candidate seeking our vote in the coming weeks to understand the appalling extent of child poverty rates in Ireland" - Barnardos.

Ministerfor Children, Dr James Reilly, to give a presentation to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva today.

Clerical abuse survivor, Marie Collins, and former president, Dr Mary McAleese, reject Pontiff's stance on corporal punishment for children.

Vatican spokesman suggests UN report was drafted in advance, without waiting for the Vatican’s own report.

Report gives no acknowledgement of safeguarding guidelines now in place.