Referendum on children's rights considered

THE GOVERNMENT is considering referendum proposals on children’s rights,

It is also pondering a referendum on the establishment of a court of civil appeal and an amendment to broaden the reference to the role of women in the home to recognise “the role of the parent in the home”.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said, however, that no date had been set for any of the proposals and there were no plans to hold all three referendums on the same date.

During Dáil questions he told Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said his party “could support all of these referenda”, that the report of the Committee on the Constitution dealing with the rights of children will be launched next week.

It is the committee’s third and final report and will deal with the family law aspects of the proposed amendment to on the rights of children.

Mr Kenny said the establishment of a court of appeal was “an absolute necessity” because it was taking 36 months to get a case into the Supreme Court. He also asked when the Bill on judicial remuneration was to be published.

Mr Cowen said provision had been made in the Finance Bill “to facilitate voluntary payments of the levy under this measure. Members of the judiciary will be able to make payments equating to the pension-related deductions appropriate for their salary levels.”

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin pointed out that the Committee on the Constitution was to hold its 62nd meeting yesterday, reflecting the length of time it had been dealing with the issue of the amendment on children’s rights. Mr Ó Caoláin appealed to the Taoiseach to give a guarantee that a referendum on children’s rights would be held this year and to approach it on an all-party basis.

Mr Cowen said he awaited the final report of the committee before he would make any comment on a children’s rights referendum. “The Government will take the opportunity to consider it, following which I will confirm the Government’s intentions.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore suggested the Government might consider a referendum on the same date as elections for a Dublin lord mayor. He said “the best part of 30 per cent of the electorate will go to the polls that day anyway.

“There are two byelections imminent which cannot be postponed forever and in respect of which, presumably, people will also go to the polls.”