Government seeks vote over children’s rights

THE Government has confirmed that it plans to hold a referendum on children’s rights before the general election if it can obtain cross-party agreement on the wording.

Tánaiste Michael McDowell yesterday told the Dáil that the Government intended to deal with the matter “as quickly as possible” and to proceed with an amendment before the next general election if possible.

“If there is all-party agreement on this issue it will happen much faster than if there is not. This is how things happen in this House,” he said.