The Children's Rights Alliance are calling for an outright ban on smacking children.

Irish law currently states that parents or gaurdians have the right to choose moderate or reasonable punishment.

Children's groups have written to the Council of Europe arguing that "reasonable chastisement" is a breach of young people's rights.

Chief Executive of the Children's Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward, told Newstalk's Breakfast that smacking a child as a form of punishment is a breach of children's rights:

These people in Dublin had mixed views on the issue: