Ahern defends referendum plans

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has strongly rejected Opposition calls to abandon his plans for a wide-ranging children's rights referendum this year.

"We are not going with a limited referendum," said Mr Ahern, speaking in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, last night on the second night of a three-day official visit.

"My concern is to make sure that everything is right, so that when we do go with it that it does protect children's rights," Mr Ahern said, in response to questions from The Irish Times.

However, Mr Ahern said he would "not pre-empt" the work of the Oireachtas children's rights committee, chaired by former Cabinet minister Mary O'Rourke.