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 OR until they have completed three years of secondary school.
Receive Contraceptive Advice and Supplies
This is a sticky one; as a person is entitled to consent to medical procedures at age 16; BUT the legal age of consent for sex is 17. So, some doctors will not prescribe or provide information on contraception to people younger than 17 years of age.
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. You can however open a child or student savings account if you are 16 or over. You will need your parent/guardian to be the co-signee if you are under 16.
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 three months notice is given to the state.
Get a part-time JOB
A young person aged 14 or under cannot work part time during the school term; but can work 35 hours a week during school holidays, as well as 40 hours per week of work experience. Those aged 15 years can work eight hours a week during term time, 25 hours during school holidays and 40 hours per week of work experience. Employers cannot allow young people to work before 8 am in the morning or after 8 pm at night. 16 and 17 year olds may work 40 hours per week with a maximum of 8 hours per day. 16 and 17 year olds are not allowed to work before 6 am in the morning or after 10 pm at night.
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 illegal for a person under the age of 18 to be in an off license unless in the presence of a parent/guardian. Young people under 18 are only allowed in a pub when they are accompanied by a parent/guardian, and only between the hours of 10.30 am to 9 pm (to 10 pm May to September). Young people between the ages of 15-17 may remain at a pub beyond these hours, only if they are at a private function where a meal has been served.
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
Since 2004, all young people must have their own passport, and can no longer be under their parent's passport.
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, but under 18, you may also make a will.
Buy a PET
You must be over 16 to be granted a dog license. For other pets, there is no legal age restriction. 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 three 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 a full licence. Motorcycles which are over 125cc: 18 years old and motorcycles which are under 125cc: 16 years old. You must be 18 to drive a goods vechicle.
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
There is no legal age restriction, but many places will not tattoo people under the age of 18.
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. It is rare for a person under 12 to be punished. Instead, the focus is usually on rehabilitation.
Be held CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE
You can be held criminally responsible at 12 years of age. This means that children who have not reached the age of 12 years cannot be charged with an offence. There is an exception, however, for children aged 10 or 11 who can be charged with murder, manslaughter, rape or aggravated sexual assault. In addition, where a child under 14 years of age is charged with an offence, no further proceedings can be taken without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Be sent to PRISON
People aged 18 years or over may be sent to prison. However, boys under age 16 and girls under age 18 at the time of being remanded or committed by the courts can be remanded in child detention schools. Lastly, places of detention are for offenders between the ages of 16 and 21 years of age who are sent there instead of prison.
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.
Your Comments
Posted by : zeitgeistireland - 27 days ago
Posted by : shanehpfl - 13 days ago
Posted by : phenickl - 17 days ago
Login to leave a comment on this article
Login | Sign Up