Groups urge Govt to set date for children's referendum

The State must commit to a date this year for the proposed referendum on the rights of the child, it was claimed tonight.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) said it was concerned at the lack of government clarity on the issue as speculation mounts the poll could be delayed until 2009 to allow for the vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

This comes as it emerged today that sexual assault charges are not being brought against the man known as 'Mr C', after the State entered a nolle prosequi at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

His controversial Supreme Court challenge in 2006 led to the unlawful carnal knowledge legislation being dramatically declared unconstitutional.

But the Minister for Children Brendan Smith said the Government was committed to holding the referendum this year.

RCNI Director Fiona Neary said: “Minister Smith continues to talk of a referendum in 2008 as his Cabinet and the Opposition move towards consensus on not holding the two referendum together, making 2008 highly unlikely for the Children’s referendum.

“Both these targets fall outside of Fianna Fáil’s promise within its manifesto to hold it within one year of re-election.

“This essential referendum has been delayed on a number of occasions since May 2006 and promises have been repeatedly broken.

“This is not good enough. The RCNI call for a clear government commitment to this referendum and for champions throughout the Dail to make their voices heard,” she said.

There had been speculation the proposed referendum could be delayed until next year after it was suggested it should not be held on the same day as the Lisbon Treaty.

Chairwoman of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children Mary O’Rourke TD said at the weekend that to lump both issues together in a catch-all poll could lead to a terrible misunderstanding.

It will resume later this month and is likely to hear the views of a range of groups, including religious leaders and children’s rights campaigners, before debating the terms of a constitutional amendment.

The Government has yet to make a decision on the date of either referendum, but Mr Smith today said it wanted to put the issue to the people in 2008.

“The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children was established in November 2007 with all-party representation,” he said.

“Its terms of reference are to examine the proposals to amend the Constitution set out in the 28th Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2007 and to report thereon to the Houses of the Oireachtas within four months of its establishment, i.e. by end March 2008.

“It continues to be the preference of the Government, as has been outlined repeatedly over recent months, that an amendment to the Constitution in relation to children, based on all-party consensus, will be put to the people during 2008,” he said.