The government is set to back calls for child beauty pageants to be banned in Ireland. The Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald is accepting an all-party call from the Seanad to discourage the pageants.

Politicians united in anger last September when a 'Toddlers and Tiaras'-style pageant was due to be held in Balbriggan in Dublin - the first of its kind in Ireland.

However after protests, Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant was forced to host the event in a pub in Co. Monaghan.

At the time Minister Fitzgerald said the event was exploitative and encouraged the early sexualisation of young girls.

Based on that response today the Seanad will spend two hours debating whether the contests should be banned outright in Ireland.

Members from all parties have signed a motion condemning child beauty pageants, saying they breach the rights of children under the United Nations Convention.

However it is not clear whether the government approval will lead to any concrete action, as a spokesman said there is not much the State can do to stop similar pageants taking place in future.