The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, declined to speculate on a date for the Government's proposed referendum on the rights of children. "It is far better that we have meaningful consultation, rather than trying to fix words and dates."
Pressed by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent to give a date, Mr Ahern said he understood that the Minister for Children Brian Lenihan had thought the matter out and had spoken at length to many groups. Mr Lenihan, he added, would have a wording in mind.
"Having been through many constitutional issues, if you produce the wording, then everybody starts picking the wording and saying that they think it is not the wording and there is not proper consultation. You would probably lead the posse, Deputy Sargent."
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said that the Taoiseach had told him on June 14th that the Government did not plan a constitutional referendum in the lifetime of the Dáil. "Do I understand him to say that we have a long way to go before we have a referendum on the rights of the child, that it is not likely to be held before the election?"
Mr Ahern said that until the Cabinet decided that there should be a referendum, his answer had to be that none was planned. The Government's view was that the referendum should be held "as early as possible", subject to getting an agreement on an all-party basis if it could.
"Minister Lenihan not only has set out a case in his head, he has set it out at the United Nations if anyone would care to read what he said. In fact, he set it out a few times in the last few years." Mr Ahern said it would not be "good business" for him to come into the House, on a contentious issue, and give the wording and the date of the referendum.
"Minister Lenihan will engage with the parties and all the interested groups." Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that the issue of "soft information" available on sex offenders should be a vital part of any referendum. Information could be available relating to the danger of a particular personality.
Mr Ahern said that Mr Kenny was right to say that many issues had been raised by many groups. Many of them were raised a decade ago when Dr Ken Whitaker chaired a constitutional review group.
The main thing was that the Constitution should be amended on the welfare principle and guarantee other children's rights.
