Rights
Want to learn to drive, vote, get a job? Find out when you can legally do it!
This section includes everything you need to know about your rights and the reasons why you should know them!
Get clued up about your work rights, when you can legally do a whole load of stuff, laws you should know about and what to do if you get into trouble with the law.
When can I...?
Leave School
Under the present law a young person is required to attend school until they are 16 years of age.
Receive Contraceptive Advice and Supplies
In certain circumstances the doctor will provide contraceptive advice and supplies to under 16’s if they have general understanding without their parents/guardians consent.
OPEN A Bank Account in my own name
No matter how much money you have in the bank, you cannot open a current account until you are 18 years old.
Serve on a JURY
A person may be called upon to serve on a jury in a court of law from the age of 18. Members of a jury are citizens who are on the electoral register. If you are called upon to attend for jury service and fail to do so, you are committing an offence and are liable to be fined.
GET MARRIED – 18 years old
In theory it is possible to marry under 18 if a court exemption is sought and 3 months notice is given to the state.
Get a part-time JOB
15 years and over is your answer. A child can work part time during the school term or during school holidays, provided there is a minimum 3 week break from work during the summer.
Get a full-time JOB
The minimum age of full employment for a young person is 16 years old. A person as young as 14 can be employed during the school holidays to do light work. This permission will be given on the condition that the work will not be harmful to the child’s development, safety or health. The work offered cannot interfere with the child’s education.
Buy Alcohol
It is illegal for anyone under 18 years of age to buy alcohol and for a publican or retailer to supply alcohol to anyone under 18. It is also an offence to allow children under 15 into a pub during opening hours, unless accompanied by an adult. To work in a pub you have to be 18 years or older unless related to owners or apprenticed.
Get a PASSPORT in my own name
If your parents give consent you can have your own individual passport at any age. At the age of 18 you can apply for your own passport without parental consent.
VOTE in Elections
You can vote at 18 but you must register your name on the electoral register.
Leave HOME
16 with parents consent or 18 without parents consent.
CONSENT to have sexual intercourse
You can legally have sex at 17 years old.
CONSENT to a male homosexual or a lesbian relationship
17 years of age.
Make a WILL
When you reach 18. If you are married and under 18, you may make a will appointing a guardian for your children.
Buy a PET
There is no law as to whether a child can have a pet or not. It is up to the discretion of the person selling it to believe that the young person is capable and responsible enough to care and look after a pet and give it a good home.
SIGN ON for income support
18 years old for unemployment benefit but it cannot be claimed for 3 months after leaving school. Any income support is always mean tested and might be influenced by your parents income and your living arrangements.
Get a CAR/MOTORCYCLE licence
At 17 you can get a provisional licence and at 18 you can get a full licence. Motorcycles which are over 125cc: 18 years old and motorcycles which are under 125cc: 16 years old.
Get a MOPED/TRACTOR licence
You can get a licence for both at 16.
SMOKE
It is illegal for people under 18 years of age to smoke or to purchase cigarettes in a shop. If caught, the shop involved can face a hefty fine.
Get a TATTOO
It is illegal to get tattooed under 18 even with parental consent.
CONSENT or REFUSE to have surgical or dental treatment
Up until 16, you need to have your parents/guardians consent. After that it is your own decision.
SEE MY Social Work RECORDS
There are no legal age restrictions on a child seeing their records. If a child of 12-13 years wants to see their records, it depends on their ability to understand.
Be Taken INTO CARE
A child can be taken into care at any age up until 18 years.
CHOOSE my own GP
You have to be 16 or over before you can register with your own GP.
SEE my medical records
You can ask to see your own medical records at 16.
Place a BET
You must be 18 to place a bet. A child cannot enter a betting shop unless accompanied by an adult.
BUY a lottery ticket
You must be 18 to buy a lottery ticket.
BABYSIT
There is no legal minimum age for babysitting. (The babysitter's level of maturity and competence are the main attributes a parent should consider)
RENT your own place
18 is the legal age to hold a tenancy (that means you are the person who legally rents the place).
Be prosecuted in a JUVENILE COURT
You can be prosecuted when 7 or over. The juvenile liaison scheme exists in order to deal with first offenders of minor offenders without going through the criminal justice system. If a child commits a minor offence, instead of being prosecuted, they are cautioned and put under supervision of a juvenile officer.
Be held CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE
The age of criminal responsibility is 7. This means that a child under that age is legally incapable of committing a crime. However there is what is called “A Rebuttabe Presumption”. A child between the age of 7-14 is incapable of having the malice necessary to commit a crime. A child may however be convicted of a crime if the prosecution can rebut that presumption by showing that the child has a mischievous disposition and knew what he/she was doing was wrong.
Be sent to PRISON
You can be sent to prison at 21. Anyone between the age of 7 and 20 years old and convicted of a crime may be sent to a reformatory centre or institution.
Buy FIREWORKS
Fireworks are illegal, so no one is allowed to have them unless they have a special permit.
See my SCHOOL RECORDS
Schools are under no legal obligation to let you see school records. However the Dept of Education is now encouraging all schools to be as open and transparent as possible in keeping with the Freedom of Information Act 1997, as well as current education legislation.
Find more information and support:
The Equality Authority
Web: www.equality.ie Email: info@equality.ie Locall 1890 245545
Provides information and advice on equality issues.
Citizens Information
Web: www.citizensinformation.ie
Tel: 01 605 9000
Provides comprehensive information on all aspects of public services and entitlements for citizens in Ireland.
Children’s Rights Alliance
Web: www.childrensrights.ie/ Email: info@childrensrights.ie Tel: 01 662 9400
The Children's Rights Alliance aims to improve the lives of all children under 18, through securing the necessary changes in Ireland's laws, policies and services.
Employment Rights Authority
Web: www.employmentrights.ie Email: info@employmentrights.ie Tel: 1890 80 80 90 Provides information to employees and employers, and covers many aspects of employment rights including wages, annual leave, working hours, redundancy, dismissal and notice.
Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Website: www.ispcc.ie Tel: 01 6767960
The ISPCC is designed to strengthen and highlight the notion of children as full citizens, enjoying the same rights as adults.
Afri – Action from Ireland
Web: www.afri.ie Email: afri@iol.ie Tel: 01 882 7563/7581
Afri is a group of committed and creative people who seek to promote debate and influence policy and practice in Ireland and internationally on human rights, peace and justice issues. Afri, in particular, responds to injustice in the world caused by war and other violent conflict.
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Web: www.iccl.ie Email: info@iccl.ie Tel: 01 7994500
Promotes civil liberties and protects human rights.
Barnardos
Web: www.barnardos.ie Email: info@barnardos.ie Tel: 01 453 0355
Barnardos supports children whose well-being is under threat, by working with them, their families and communities and by campaigning for the rights of children. Barnardos also supports children and families through challenging times of bereavement or law proceedings.
Amnesty International
Web: www.amnesty.ie Email: info@amnesty.ie Tel: 01 677 6361
Amnesty International undertakes research and action while highlighting and campaigning against human rights abuses and humanitarian crisis around the world. Amnesty is the largest Human Rights Organisation in the world with more than 1.5 million members.
Ombudsman for Children and Young People
Web: www.oco.ie Email: oco@oco.ie Tel: 01 865 6800 Freefone: 1800 20 20 40
The Ombudsman for Children's Office makes sure that the government and other people who make decisions about young people really think about what is best for young people. If you have a complaint about public services for children, the OCO may be able to help you.
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