Ahern: Change to constitution to protect children

The Irish Constitution must be changed to fully protect children against neglect or abuse, The Taoiseach said tonight.

Addressing Fianna Fáil's General Election candidates in Dublin, party leader Bertie Ahern aims to begin a consultation process with Opposition parties and the public.

He said he believed that the Constitution should fully value and protect childhood.

He told his audience: “I believe we should make provision in our Constitution for children to be protected from maltreatment, neglect or abuse.

“I would also like to see the Constitution have a specific provision which requires that in relevant circumstances, the welfare of the child should be the paramount consideration. And we need to explicitly set out rights of the child in our Constitution.”

The Taoiseach said he would ask Minister for Children Brian Lenihan to begin a process of consultation with Dáil parties and the general public on the issue.

Mr Ahern was speaking as he rallied first-time General Election candidates on the eve of the party’s 70th Ard Fheis.

He addressed dozens of Dáil hopefuls and their election directors at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel.

Tomorrow, up to 5,000 delegates are expected to debate 154 motions before Mr Ahern’s televised presidential speech.

Mr Ahern told the candidates that they have the diversity, depth of knowledge, and enthusiasm to build the party’s past record.

“With your support, faith and strength driving us along, Fianna Fail will face into the election year with unbreakable resolve.

“The confidence of our campaign, the quality of our candidates and the vision of our policies will be brought to the people in the most determined political campaign this country has ever seen.”

First-time Dáil candidate, Senator Timothy Dooley, 37 is one of 94 candidates so far selected for the party.

The Clare representative said: “The Ard Fheis is a vital opportunity to raise important issues on behalf of the people of Clare and I will be lobbying key Government ministers on various local projects.”

The Ogra youth wing of the party has also been swelled by 2,400 students joining in 2006.

Speaking on the need for a Constitutional amendment to protect children, Mr Ahern said: “Our objective should be to have, in our fundamental law, provisions which are as strong and as effective as that possessed by any other country in the world.

“We should be second to none in giving effect to our commitment to truly value childhood. That is why I believe we should have a constitutional referendum to put the rights of children in a central place in our constitution.

“I have requested Minister Brian Lenihan to initiate a process of consultation and discussion with the other Dáil parties and with all relevant interest groups in the coming weeks.

“We aim to achieve a consensus on the wording of an appropriate constitutional amendment. My priority is to find a wording for our constitution that will reflect the desire of the Irish people to establish robust safeguards for the rights and liberties of all the children of our nation.”