Proposed legislation in the form of The Children Bill 1999 would raise the age of child criminal responsibility in Ireland from seven years to 12.
Under the legislation, due before the Dáil today, the killers of James Bulger, who were 10 at the time of the offence, would not have been charged with the killing had it happened in this State.
The bill - a "complete reappraisal" of the State's 1908 Children Act - is based on the principle that detention of children should be used as a "last resort", a Department of Health and Children spokesperson said.
Ms Mary Hanafin, the Minister of State for Children, said: "This bill involves a total overhaul of the juvenile justice system and gives a new legal basis for dealing with children who are offenders.
"It marks an important milestone in the legal protection for children."
Other provisions of the bill include:
- the use of "restorative justice" whereby child offenders face their victim and apologise;
- listing alternative sanctions, such as imposing a curfew, furthering their education and forcing them to pay compensation;
- a legal framework for detaining children with "serious behavioural problems" and who are in need of special care.
PA