Next year could see two referendums

TWO referendums on children’s rights and the European Union could take place next year, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern signalled yesterday.

Having seen his plans to hold a referendum on children’s rights before the general election stall because of a failure to obtain consensus on the age of consent, Mr Ahern yesterday declined to say whether the issue would feature in the referendum.

An all-party committee, chaired by the Minister for Children Brendan Smith, will now seek an agreed wording for the referendum.