Children’s referendum will transfer rights to State

FOLLOWING on Hermann Kelly’s excellent articles (Irish Examiner, February 22 and March 9), it is important to reiterate that the proposed referendum on the ‘rights’ of the child is but a smokescreen for the real issue at heart.

The referendum is an insidious and pernicious attempt by the Government and organisations such as the Children’s Rights Alliance to continue their campaigns to wrest control of and undermine the authority of the natural family.

If adopted, this referendum would allow the State to forcibly take children from their parents if the State judges that the parent has failed the child in any physical or moral way.

What does the Government think it is to determine morals? What is the Government’s definition of physical failure?

Our constitution sufficiently enshrines the protection of our children through the parents.

Just ask Kathy Sinnott MEP, who ably fought, and won, for one of her child’s right to special needs help, through Article 42.5, the very article now under threat.

The problem arises when the Government fails to legislate properly, and to cover its own failures, in this regard, it resorts to a referendum.

Because a child, by definition, is unable to make certain decision’s for itself, his or her rights have always been vested in the parent.

So, to now take the child’s rights from the parent means they must be transferred to someone else — in this case, the State. Is this what parents really want?

This referendum has nothing to do with ‘children’s rights’ and is certainly not in the best interest of children.

Their rights and interests are best protected by those who know them and care for them most — their parents.

Adrian Webb

Killountain

Innishannon

Co Cork