Analysis:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has pushed efforts to produce a wording for a children rights' referendum for months, often to the bemusement of some of his Cabinet colleagues.
In Government Buildings, the subject is known as "a T issue", and one that doubters keep quiet about given Ahern's known interest.
Yesterday, children's rights groups lined up in Government Buildings to express their general support for the wording. Some quibbles exist, some believe it does not go far enough, but all in all, they are ready to accept it. Pleasing such groups is no mean feat.
For months, observers have speculated on his interest in the subject, while supporters point back to the 1999 apology Ahern gave to child abuse victims as a sign of his commitment.
As always, though, with the Taoiseach, his motivation is probably more complicated than first appears. Clearly, he is interested in the subject.
However, a referendum campaign just months from the election - with him on the side of children - would not have been bad politics.
If nothing else, it would have ensured that children's welfare would have been the focus of media and political attention for several weeks, rather than any more toxic political subject.
Even as it is, it has achieved some of the latter objective. And it may have further life, as the Government and the Opposition spar about the timing of the referendum. Furthermore, it could occupy some space during the general election campaign if it were held on the same day.
Bertie Ahern, however, is not keen for it to be held on the same day. The Opposition, which desperately wants to keep the focus on services, services, services over the last five years, is even less so.
So far, it is clear that Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens do not want to touch the referendum with a barge pole, while Sinn Féin wants a "Yes" vote, with reservations.
The Opposition complains that insufficient consultation has taken place, arguing that the final wording only appeared yesterday. Fine Gael argues that up to now the Government has only put forward statements of principles in a series of briefing documents. "The Constitution is about wording. You can't go and get a legal opinion on something until you have the final wording," said Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keeffe.
In truth, the Opposition has grounds for complaint. The age of consent was well thrashed out before the Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection last year.
However, the other issues contained in the referendum have not been so well debated.
Given that Mr Ahern has gone so far as to produce a wording, one reasonably well received by interest groups, the Opposition must now proceed carefully to ensure that he does not win politically, whatever about the referendum ballot box.
Though the public may have little interest in travelling to polling booths on the issue, no political party will want to be seen as deliberately obstructive.
The lobby groups are now interested parties. Though some feel it does not go far enough, all of them want a referendum to be held - barring the discovery of a legal minefield. "If the referendum is not held before the election, it will not be held until after the summer - and that's if Fianna Fáil is re-elected.
"If the Opposition gets in, the delay will be even longer given the time that it will take new ministers to read themselves into their new postings," said one advocate.