The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, is to step down after a decade in the job to take up a new position as Chief Commissioner of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

She will begin in her new position this autumn.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will be responsible for promoting equality and the human rights of all members of society. It has been formed following a merger of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority.

Commenting on her time as Ombudsman, Ms Logan described it as a ‘privilege'.

"It was a remarkable experience for me both personally and professionally, and I believe that my office made an important contribution to the promotion and protection of children's rights during this time," she commented.

According to Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance, Ms Logan has done ‘an outstanding job' as Ireland's first Ombudsman for Children.

"She established the Office under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 and developed it into the highly respected body that it is today. Through the independent investigation of public bodies, children and their advocates now have a place to go when their rights are violated and the office has been instrumental in securing important change for vulnerable children and for strengthening children's rights," Ms Ward insisted.

She said that among Ms Logan's most important achievements were the ‘pioneering reports in relation to St Patrick's Institution, on separated children and most recently, for her hard-hitting special inquiry into the removal of two Roma children from their families'.

"She has also made critical impacts in areas including child homelessness, children in care, child protection, disabilities and in the sphere of education," Ms Ward added.

For more information on the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, click here