Why I will be voting no in children’s referendum

While I was initially in favour of a constitutional provision providing for children’s rights, having studied the proposed amendment I will be voting no for a number of reasons.

The fact that no-one can give any reasonable forecast as to how it will be implemented in practice is in itself good enough reason for a no vote. The claim that the courts will decide does not reflect current practice whereby judges delegate decisions relating to children to social workers, whose decisions are more influenced by ideology than the best interests of children.

Providing that children’s views be taken into account may appear superficially attractive, but is fraught with dangers. Putting children into a pivotal position in deciding acrimonious disputes between parents will expose them to manipulation, and possible even to intimidation.

The provision to allow for the children of married parents to be adopted is potentially the most dangerous of all, especially for separated and unmarried fathers.

Mothers, who have custody of children and are living with a new partner, will be entitled to apply to have the children adopted by her new partner against the wishes of the natural father. This would be consistent with the State’s unwritten policy of creating a fatherless society.

Matt Harper

Clones Road

Monaghan