The Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner has described the lack of child protection guidelines for MLA s as a "significant oversight."
This comes after the Assembly Commission confirmed that there are currently no specific guidelines in place for MLAs who offer work experience to children and young people under the age of 18,
Following inquiries from Belfast Live, the Assembly Commission stated that a document providing safeguarding guidance for MLAs is due to be published this month.
A spokesperson for the Assembly explained: “The Assembly Commission has had a policy in place since 2012 on the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults - applicable to Commission staff and those acting on its behalf, such as agency workers and inward secondees.
“This policy was updated in 2024 and is now known as the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. It specifically addressed safeguarding in relation to the Youth Assembly and also the risk to children and vulnerable adults from social media and online communications.
“Following further consideration of the scope of this policy, it was agreed that similar guidance should be developed for non-staff passholders and contractors. As a result, a document called, Safeguarding Guidance for Members has been developed and is due to be published this month.”
Responding to the news, Commissioner for Children and Young People, Chris Quinn said that taking account of the recent high-profile child safeguarding concerns in Northern Ireland, placing sole responsibility on MLAs for student safety raises concerns.
“The absence of child protection guidelines for MLAs hosting young people under 18 on work experience is a significant oversight, especially given that all public bodies should have established safeguarding policies," he said.
“While the Assembly Commission states it has Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy since 2012, it primarily focused on staff and the Youth Assembly, neglecting the specific needs of MLAs and their work placements.
“The recent development of guidance for Members indicates that safeguarding procedures for young people in political contexts have not been systematically addressed."
Chris Quinn added that inconsistent measures create gaps in supervision, reporting, and accountability.
"Recognising the urgent need for guidance should not have waited for an Assembly question, especially amidst high-profile child protection concerns in Northern Ireland," he said.
“While the new guidance aims to support MLAs, placing sole responsibility on them for student safety raises concerns about necessary training, oversight, and reporting.
“A comprehensive approach must cover risk assessments, supervision, and clear reporting procedures, aligned with UNCRC articles emphasising child protection and rights. Regular reviews are crucial to ensure the effectiveness of these measures. This initiative should be part of a more significant effort to enhance safeguarding across all public institutions, highlighting the need for a systematic, child-centred approach to protection policies.”
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