Opposition doubt referendum can take place before election

THE publication of the Government’s wording on the constitutional amendment on children was broadly welcomed by the opposition and children’s’ organisations yesterday but all doubted whether the referendum can be held before this summer’s general election.

Labour Senator Derek McDowell said there was much in the amendment that he supported but also said that he was disappointed with other areas.

“The package as a whole is complex. I have to say that I do not believe that, even with whole-hearted co-operation from the parties in the Oireachtas, the proposals can be debated within the timeframe proposed,” he said.

Ciarán Cuffe, Justice spokesperson of the Green Party criticised the wording for not going far enough to enshrine the rights of children in the Constitution, though he gave a positive response to some of its key measures on soft information and the absolute zone of protection for children under 16.

“There is inadequate time for a lengthy and full debate around the issues before the general election,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald urged all parties to work together to ensure that the referendum took place before the election. She said that the Government could have gone further to underpin the rights of children.

Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan described it as a historic day, which was monumental in terms of Irish society.

However, she said there were concerns about the time that will be allotted for a full debate on what she said were very complicated questions.

Barnardos director of advocacy Norah Gibbons said if the referendum were not held before the election, the Oireachtas should agree to pass a motion committing it to hold the referendum in the autumn.

She said that on a quick reading of the wording, Barnardos had found no serious fault with it.

Jillian van Turnhout, chief executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance said that the publication of the bill for the amendment was a step in the right direction.

“It brings us closer to our goal of securing constitutional change that will make a real and positive difference to children in Ireland.”

However, she said the alliance had yet to take a formal decision on whether to support the amendment.

Dr Clíona Saidléar of the Rape Crisis Network welcomed the decision of the Government not to include any consideration of the age of consent in its provisions to create an absolute zone of protection from sexual abuse are children aged under 16.

She said the amendment of the Constitution — and the strong protections it will afford to children under 18 from sexual abuse — had no implications for the age of consent, which is a separate issue.