O’Rourke wants party consensus on wording

THE chairwoman of the committee charged with wording the referendum to solve the statutory rape crisis has said she wants political consensus before putting it to the people.

Deputy Mary O’Rourke, who chairs the all-party committee on the children’s constitutional amendment, said she expects to produce a report by November.

However, this week the urgent need to establish a robust and accepted set of laws was recognised by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan. Afterwards Ms O’Rourke said her committee was aware of the need to avoid delays.