The European Union reform treaty referendum and one offering stronger constitutional rights to children should be held on the same day, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Ahern expressed his concern that the children's referendum would not take place during the course of 2008 if it was not linked with the treaty.
"If we separate it from the EU referendum, it is unlikely it will be dealt with in 2008. If it cannot be done, it cannot be done," he told Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny during Dáil questions. He had given a "a firm commitment" to children's rights organisations that the "referendum would be dealt with by Easter 2008. If it is separated from the European issue, it will not happen in 2008."
However, he said, the Oireachtas all-party committee set up to draft a proposed wording for the children's rights amendment is "unanimous in the view that they need until the end of April or the other side of Easter to complete their work. A referendum Bill will then be required. We will have to see whether it is possible to link the two referendums."
However, Mr Ahern, none too subtly, questioned the amount of time the work should take and the number of meetings scheduled by the Oireachtas committee, chaired by former Fianna Fáil minister Mary O'Rourke, to complete its work. "I would like to think that it could be done quicker if the committee met twice per week instead of once per week. I urge all of its members to do so."
He said he had told Minister of State for Children Brendan Smith that the Oireachtas committee could finish quicker "because a huge amount of the work, including the drafting of the entire Bill, has been done."