Kenny urges voters to make history in poll

The Government has said it hopes a lack of coverage of the campaign on the upcoming children’s referendum does not affect awareness of issues surrounding the proposed Constitutional change.

Enda Kenny said a yes vote would help the lives of broken and vulnerable boys and girls.

Flanked by several senior ministers as he launched Fine Gael’s campaign for a yes vote in Dublin, he said people could make history on Nov 10 by voting in favour.

“As Taoiseach, and as a father, I’m asking people to do exactly that, to come out in force and vote yes. Parents across the country know that innocence is something that we value and protect and guard with our lives. But a small minority of children do not know such love, such devotion, such security.

“They live broken, frightening lives, often silent and silenced by the very fact that they are just that: Children.

“It is these vulnerable boys and girls who will be helped and supported and nourished by this proposed amendment.”

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she hoped that any lack of coverage by the media would not translate into a lack of awareness on the vote. She also said the vote was not just about matters relating to the past. There were over 1,500 reports of serious sexual abuse of children to services last year, she said.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said he hoped the media would cover the campaign, despite the fact that no serious opposition has emerged to the yes side.

“What we have to say about this referendum is newsworthy because of the horrors of the revelations of the last two decades.”

Former foster child Wayne Dignam and foster parent and West Cork Fine Gael TD Jim Daly also spoke out in support of the constitutional change and how the system had affected their lives.

Fine Gael’s referendum campaign director, Leo Varadkar, said the party would not take the campaign for granted.

The independent referendum commission will this morning hold its launch on the vote.

Meanwhile, the National Youth Council of Ireland has launched a smartphone app for the referendum.

The app uses animation and short, sharp messages to guide users through registering to vote, and reasons to vote yes.

* Get the app at nyci.ie