Smacking children is set to be banned outright, after a European ruling on corporal punishment.

The Council of Europe said Ireland should update its laws to ensure that bans on smacking children are clear, binding and precise.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald says only a tiny percentage of Irish parents slap their children.

Juliette Gash reports;

The ISPCC welcomed the ruling, CEO Grainia Long said;

'We are delighted at today’s ruling by the European Committee of Social Rights. Now is time to change our laws and put children’s rights at the centre of our legislation. A total ban on corporal punishment is long overdue.'

'Any society that is serious about preventing child abuse and discouraging violence must recognise that a legal ban on physical punishment is required. We welcome news from the Ministers office this morning that he has instructed his officials to consider the implications of removing the common law defence of reasonable chastisement. The ISPCC is calling on the Government to put in place a national Positive Parenting programme alongside changes to the legislation in order to demonstrate a clear standard for the way society aspires to treat its children.'