About the IAPP

Dr. Niall Muldoon is Ireland’s Ombudsman for Children. Niall, who is a Counselling and Clinical Psychologist, was appointed for a second 6-year term, by President Michael D Higgins in February 2021. He is one of the longest service Ombudsman for Children in the world at present. In his Niall has focused on generating an Ireland where children and young people are actively heard, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Niall has been invited to speak on Children’s Rights across the world including Taiwan, China, Monaco, New York and Geneva.

During his tenure, the Office has sought to give voice to those children who are often not listened to. In that time the Office has consulted with young people availing of Ireland’s Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), children in Direct Provision, those in children’s hospitals, homeless young people living in Family Hubs and it has facilitated young people to produce a report for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2022). In 2023 the Office published a Special Report on the Direct Provision system in Ireland. Niall has also contributed internationally as a member of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) where he has held the roles of Secretary and Treasurer on the Bureau over a number of years.