Appeal for high referendum turnout

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has made a special appeal to students who have long campaigned for a Saturday vote to come out in numbers to back the children’s referendum on November 10th.

She launched a new website, childrensreferendum.ie, this afternoon to help promote the Yes side in the November 10th poll, with the help of some youngsters from St Audeon's National School in Dublin.

"I hope the Saturday date will attract more voters but it's up to the young people in the universities now who've always looked for a Saturday vote to come out and vote," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"In terms of catching the public imagination, there's a lot of other headlines at the moment. We have to make sure that the children's referendum is in there coming up to the date."

She said the Government would undertake a strong information campaign, with a booklet going to every home explaining the proposed constitutional amendment. The Referendum Commission would be supplying its own booklet, she added.

Meanwhile, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has added its voice to the Yes campaign following a ballot of its members. The organisation's director Mary Cunningham said a key part of the campaign would be based on encouraging young people to vote.

"NYCI will be rolling out a national campaign to engage 18–25-year-olds in particular in the weeks coming up to the November 10th referendum date, to ensure we take advantage of the Saturday vote and maximise the participation of young voters," Ms Cunningham said.

NYCI will be working as part of the Yes for Children campaign alongside Barnardos, the Children's Rights Alliance, the ISPCC and Campaign for Children.