A subtle change to protecting children

The no side in the referendum claims the State would remove children from loving homes. But will it, asks Conor O’Mahony

IN A referendum campaign that has not been especially contentious, one of the few issues to generate any amount of discussion is whether the constitutional amendment on children will give the State more power to intervene in family affairs and override parental authority.

The single biggest reason given by opponents of the referendum to vote no is that the amendment will allow the State to remove children from loving and caring homes, or to impose decisions on sensitive personal or medical matters over the objections of their parents.