Children's poll will be battle, says O'Rourke

FIANNA FÁIL TD, Mary O’Rourke has warned that various groupings are joining forces to fight the referendum on children’s rights, a date for which has not yet been set. This includes pro-life and also anti-Lisbon activists.

Mrs O’Rourke has renewed her call for the poll to take place soon. Mrs O’Rourke chaired the cross-party committee that produced the report proposing a referendum that could result in a new article 42 in the Constitution.

“I know quite well it’s not going to be a sweet passage. How could it be? But I also know it’s the right way to approach the whole matter.”

She stressed no amendment to article 41 on the family was proposed by the committee.

“The forces of old will wish to re-assert themselves.

“They are the same forces that were out during the Lisbon campaign and all of the early pro-life and anti-abortion campaigns,” she said.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but opinion based on fact not opinion based on fantasy,” she said.

Two other referendums are promised in the renewed Programme for Government.

There is a proposal to hold a referendum to consider amending article 41.2 by broadening the reference to the role of women in the home to one that recognises the role of the parent in the home.

There is also a proposal to hold a referendum to consider the establishment of a Court of Civil Appeal.

Three byelections are out-standing in Donegal South West, Dublin South and Waterford, at least two of which are almost certain to prove problematic for the Government, and a Dublin mayoral election has also been promised. However, Mrs O’Rourke said the children’s referendum was so important, it should be held on its own.

“I certainly think it shouldn’t be with byelections. It would become mired in political debate,” she added.

Mrs O’Rourke said recent comments from the Government had made her “more hopeful we can move forward”.

Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews is expected to bring a memo to the Government about the children’s rights referendum at the end of the month and Government departments and the Attorney General have been considering its wording.

Mr Andrews has said he is “hopeful” there will be a referendum before the end of the year, but has also stressed it would be more important to get the wording right than to have the poll quickly.

Mrs O’Rourke has previously stated that Mr Andrews has €3 million in his budget to hold the referendum.