![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2.15187195.jpg\")
A legal ban on reporting the identity of murdered children in Ireland must be changed to ensure transparency, the Taoiseach has said.<\/p>\nA legal ban on reporting the identity of murdered children in Ireland must be changed to ensure transparency, the Taoiseach has said.<\/p>\n
Miche\u00e1l Martin said Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Attorney General Paul Gallagher were working on measures to lift the prohibition.<\/p>\n
A landmark decision by the Court of Appeal in October last year ruled that provisions within the 2001 Children Act that prevent the identification of a child when someone is charged with an offence against them do not exclude children who are deceased.<\/p>\n
The ruling marked a significant departure from established media reporting practices in the State.<\/p>\n
It means child murder victims can no longer be named when someone is charged with the crime.<\/p>\n
Changing the position would require an amendment to the Children Act.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin said he expected legislative action early this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the Attorney General is working on that with the Minister for Justice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has to be changed and we will. The specific nature of how we do it, we will have to wait to see the detail of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked why it was important to allow children who had been killed to be identified, the Taoiseach added: \u201cI think it\u2019s important in terms of \u2026 I believe in transparency on issues like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course we should know who has murdered a child \u2013 in certain circumstances it is essential.\u201d<\/p>\n