Why I did not vote ‘yes’ in children’s referendum

As one of the 445,863 people who voted against the proposal to alter our constitution, I need to defend my decision as a result of various theories espoused by a number of ministers.

I believe the State got off the hook by removing a definitive obligation to protect the imprescriptible rights of children (Article 42.5) and replace it with a conditional article which will affirm these “rights” where “practicable”.

As a family man I have great concern for the welfare of all children, but as the troika bean counters control our particular asylum, our weak-minded Government will not make the required resources available lest they leave their bondholder friends short.

My fellow objectors and I can take comfort in the great numbers of us who used free will and thought to form opinions and not succumb to the herd mentality.

The political establishment must be running scared considering that based on the referendums returns, and contrary to the view of 164 TDs, the free thinking citizens of this Republic could elect 20 of our own in the next general election.

Thomas O’Connor

Crumlin

Dublin 12