Coughlan says no date set for referendum

THE REFERENDUM on children’s rights should be held on its own, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan told the Dáil. She said she was expressing a personal view.

Responding to Opposition demands that the Government name a date, she said: “This issue is far too serious for the political castigations sent across the floor of the House.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said €3 million had been allocated to hold a referendum and an all-party committee had recommended a wording.

“Will the Tánaiste tell the House whether there will be a children’s rights referendum in 2010, or are we to continue this dialogue interminably with no answers coming from the Government?” he said.

Ms Coughlan said the Government would hold a referendum, but no date had been decided.

Minister of State for Children’s Affairs Barry Andrews said while he urged caution on the issue, he was not suggesting that the referendum should be put on the long finger. He said the Cabinet had decided that all Ministers and departments should consider the committee’s report and any legislation required. The Attorney General was also considering the committee’s report and his input would be critical.

The report would be brought back to Government in early summer with an analysis of what needed to be done. “Any proposed amendment to the Constitution must be done properly.’’

Mr Andrews said given the complex nature of the proposal, a thorough consideration of all details was the least one should expect from the Government before a wording was put to the people.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore referred to a Labour-Sinn Féin motion, moved last night in Private Members’ time, calling for a referendum to be held this year and the necessary legislation introduced in the House.

The Government amendment to the motion, he said, asked the Dáil to commend the Government for prioritising the promotion and protection of the welfare and rights of children.

“This is an unfortunate clause, given that the amendment opposes the holding of the referendum in 2010,” he added.

Introducing the motion later, Labour spokesman on constitutional matters and law reform Brendan Howlin said it was being done in the shadow of another tragic death, this time by the murder of a child in the care of the HSE.

“We don’t know the full story of the life and death of Daniel McAnaspie,” he added. “What we do know is disquieting and a cause of real concern.”

Mr Howlin said it was a remarkable achievement to have produced last February an all-party agreed set of proposals including a wording for constitutional change.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the lack of robust constitutional rights for children had left a situation where successive governments had been able to abrogate responsibility.