Keeping our youngest citizens safe

The child rights provision requires evidence of abuse and neglect before children are placed in care or adopted, writes Conor O’Mahony

Q: So what exactly is this referendum about?

A: The referendum is about whether we want to insert a new article into our Constitution which deals with the rights of children and sets out a number of obligations for the Oireachtas and the courts with respect to the law on children. It addresses issues relating to the duties and powers of the State to intervene to protect children who are being neglected or abused; the placement for adoption of children whose parents are married; and the principles that govern court cases in which there is a dispute over the care of children.