Listen to children during the silly season

A FORTNIGHT ago, Enda Kenny sought to dampen down public speculation by his Cabinet colleagues on December’s budget by declaring that “silly season” was over.

However, when it comes to the forthcoming referendum on the constitutional amendment on children, silly season is just beginning.

Opposition to the amendment from individuals and groups of a conservative religious persuasion is predictable. Recently, Frances Fitzgerald, the children’s minister, rejected claims by former MEP Kathy Sinnott that the amendment could result in intelligent children from poor families being compulsorily placed for adoption with wealthier families so as to further their educational opportunities. This claim is transparently outlandish and unfounded, but similar accusations are sure to follow in the lead-up to the referendum campaign.