Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I have listened to the arguments and I will not get into an argument on this because I want to try to get agreement on it. It did not start last summer. Some of the other issues were raised in the Judge Catherine McGuinness report of 1993, moved onto the constitutional review of 1996 and into the debate on the Children Acts between 1996 and 2001. Other issues formed part of the adoption review, which has gone on for a long time. There are different issues concerned with trying to help the rights of parents and families.

The wording, we believe, strikes a balance between the rights of children and the rights of parents and families by replacing Article 42.5, which contains, according to our advice and constitutional advice, limited protections for children, with a new dedicated children's article. It contains a number of different, substantial and practical elements, all of which will protect the rights of children. None will undermine the role of parents or the constitutional safeguards for the family. We have been careful in all our discussions to try to define these.

Many people who have examined this and been involved with it believe it is commendable to have such a balance. As the Deputy knows, there is a broad view. I accept that people need time to examine the wording and that they cannot do it the day following publication, but I ask the Deputy to examine the wording, take his advice and to come back to us.

We believe we can do this in an integrated way. I accept that some people have argued that, perhaps, there is an alternative to putting it into one question with this wording. The people working for the Government on this came to the unanimous conclusion that this was the best way to do it, but I am not saying that there are no other views. We are prepared to listen to those views and, as soon as the Deputy has had a chance to put those to us in discussion, we will be glad to listen.

I would like to try to deal with these issues during the current Dáil or, if they have not been dealt with comprehensively and fully, to bring them as far as we can. The House must reach an agreement on how best to do that. This is our proposal and it is our view that we could take the Bill through, but if the Deputy wants to talk to us, as he obviously does, we are open to that.

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