Fine Gael fears scrapping of Children’s Rights Referendum

Fine Gael has said it fears the Government has secretly decided to abandon the idea of holding a Children’s Rights Referendum.

The party claims there is an urgent need for the law on statutory rape to be reinstated and that this can only be done by amending the constitution.

It is calling for new legislation to ensure that an adult can't rely on the excuse of believing a child is over the age of consent when having sex.

Spokesperson on children Alan Shatter is accusing the Government of not having the stomach to address the issue after the defeat of the Lisbon Treaty.

‘For this referendum to be successful there will have to be an active campaign,’ he said.