Children's rights referendum 'on track' for autumn

THE CHILDREN’S rights referendum was discussed at Cabinet yesterday and is “on track” to be held in the autumn, a Government spokeswoman said.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald briefed her colleagues on “significant progress” that had been made on agreeing a wording for the proposed constitutional amendment in discussions between her department and the Office of the Attorney General at the first Cabinet meeting since the summer break.

No date has been set, but a Government source said the referendum was expected to take place in November.

Married parents could consent to having their children placed for adoption if the referendum is passed.

More work needs to be done on complex related legislation on adoption that would be required to be enacted, The Irish Times understands.

The referendum will be on next week’s Cabinet agenda, the spokeswoman confirmed. “It’s on track for an autumn referendum,” she said.

“A good discussion was had by Cabinet. It was described as a historic opportunity to have a children’s referendum,” she added.

The Government spokeswoman said a Cabinet committee was formed in July and met to progress work on the referendum in recent months.

The committee involved Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore; the Attorney General Maire Whelan; Minister for Justice Alan Shatter; Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte and Ms Fitzgerald.

“They met on various occasions in various configurations over the summer,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Minister briefed on significant progress made on the wording between her department and the AG’s office, and on the adoption legislation as well.”

When she took up her post, Ms Fitzgerald said improving adoption and fostering systems in Ireland would be among her key priorities. Ms Fitzgerald was a member of the committee chaired by then Fianna Fáil TD Mary O’Rourke, who more than two years ago proposed a rewrite of article 42 of the Constitution.

This would have recognised the rights of children as individuals, including the right of the child’s voice to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child. The new wording is expected to be similar.

Fianna Fáil warned last month that the Government was at risk of losing the referendum because it had not published the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment. Ms Fitzgerald, who is hoping for cross-party support for the referendum, said it had always been the Government’s intention to publish the wording in the autumn, and there was, therefore, no delay.