The referendum on children's rights will take place this year, Minister for Children Brendan Smith has insisted.
There had been speculation that the referendum might be delayed until next year after a number of political figures said it should not be held on the same day as the Lisbon Treaty poll.
In a statement today, however, Mr Smith said it was the Government's preference, based on all-party consensus, that the children's referendum take place this year.
"The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children was established in November 2007 with all-party representation," he said.
"Its terms of reference are to examine the proposals to amend the Constitution set out in the 28th Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2007 and to report thereon to the Houses of the Oireachtas within four months of its establishment, i.e. by end March 2008."
Mr Smith said the Government is awaiting the outcome of the committee's deliberations.
But the chairwoman of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, Mary O'Rourke TD, said this week that many committee members felt the two referendums should not be held on the same day.
"They are both equally important issues and to try to lump them together in a catch-all poll could lead to terrible misunderstanding, both on the European issue and the children's issue," she said.
Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny have also said they are opposed to a "double referendum".
Fine Gael today called on the Government to hold an early referendum specifically aimed at protecting children from sexual predators after charges were dropped against the man in the so-called 'Mr C' case.
"Mr C" was facing sexual assault charges after the State earlier decided not to prosecute him in relation to the unlawful carnal knowledge charge following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Fine Gael spokesman on children, Alan Shatter, said he agreed that it is undesirable that the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty coincide with the referendum on children's rights.
Mr Shatter said there was "no realistic possibility" in his view that the Oireachtas committee will complete its work and bring forward the amended comprehensive and considered constitutional proposal before June, to allow the referendum go ahead before the summer.
"I am also concerned that the complexity of the issues involved could create difficulty and confusion if publicly debated in the midst of a debate on the Lisbon Treaty.
"However, the wording of the amendment proposed in the 2007 Children's Referendum Bill that will allow for the necessary criminal law changes is uncomplicated, can be detached from the other Constitutional provisions contained in the Government Bill originally published, and should be incorporated into the Constitution without undue delay."
"There is no reason why it could not be dealt with in a brief Bill by way of a referendum in conjunction with the Lisbon Treaty. I am calling on the Government to agree to this proposal," Mr Shatter said.