Where’s the referendum on children’s rights?

WE are now to have a referendum on the Oireachtas’s right to hold tribunals of enquiry on October 27, not a Children’s referendum against abuse that was eagerly awaited by social workers and child protection groups.

An expensive public consultation took place in relation to the wording and proposal to insert a children’s amendment in the Constitution with all the fandango you could imagine at the time.

With respect, the John Carthy incident and the state’s use of lethal force was disgraceful and gardaí have a lot to answer for, but one can see how political priorities can change overnight in this country.