Taoiseach Bertie Ahern ruled out holding the Government's proposed referendum on children's rights before Easter.
"It is not possible to hold the referendum before Easter because of the number of days that remain. Even if we all agreed next week to pass the referendum Bill in the Houses, we could not hold the referendum by Easter." Mr Ahern said the Bill was being drafted and would be published next week. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan was awaiting the Opposition's response to his second briefing document.
"As I have said all along, if we can achieve all-party agreement on this matter, I believe we should hold a referendum," he said. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Mr Lenihan's level of briefing had not been as extensive as was being portrayed.
Mr Ahern said that he appreciated that the briefing documents did not contain the wording that was finalised on Tuesday.
"A significant amount of debate and consideration took place on the issue, involving the Attorney General and eminent constitutional counsel in this area. We have to do an Irish translation and this will take a few days. The deputy will be aware that is crucial in a constitutional referendum." He added that the best way of dealing with the matter was for the Government to put its full proposals into the public domain.
When Mr Kenny suggested that Mr Ahern did not wish to have the issue politicised for whatever reason, Mr Ahern replied: "No, I do not. That would be the worst of all worlds."
Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) said time was of the essence and the Government was "like a patient facing the end and in denial and in a panic about several issues that it had not dealt with and had to cram in".
