Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Taoiseach assure the House that whatever the outcome to the referendum on the EU constitutional treaty, the Government will abide by it and avoid the type of debacle that took place in regard to the Treaty of Nice II? Will the Government accept the judgment of the people on the various arguments? It is important to assuage the fears of many as to the Government's intentions on this matter. The Government has repeatedly sought to assure the House that the growing militarisation of the European Union does not represent a threat to Irish neutrality. If that is the case, is the Taoiseach prepared to consider a referendum to enshrine Irish neutrality in the Constitution? Just over a year ago the Sinn Féin Deputies presented a Bill for that purpose which I commend to the Government if it wants to examine what would be required to progress such a proposition.

In regard to the proposed 28th amendment of the Constitution regarding the rights of children, I acknowledge that the former Minister with responsibility in that area, now Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, was very accommodating and accessible in the exchange of ideas and views on the matter. I wish his successor, my constituency colleague, well in this responsibility. Is the Taoiseach still open to ideas in regard to the structure, wording and detail of the proposition? Will he and the Minister with responsibility in the area ensure there is a proper debate leading to such a referendum in order that the best advice and the widest raft of opinion can be factored in in advance of tabling the wording? In the document we presented we suggested inserting a new article into the Constitution expressly detailing children's rights based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the Taoiseach referred in his opening response to this group of questions. Will the Government continue with the approach employed by the former Minister with responsibility for children? Will he adopt, as we have argued for, a broader and more comprehensive protection of the rights of children?

This is the 50th anniversary of the last introduction by an Irish Government of internment without trial. Fifty years ago the Government of the day exercised that power, a power that does not require a vote or debate in the House. It is a power that remains on the Statute Book and has not been exercised since. It has no place in any Statute Book. In the light of today's reality, knowing how detrimental, unhelpful and how adverse it is to the human rights of individuals who are scooped in such a manner — hundreds were detained at the Government's pleasure in the Curragh 50 years ago — would the Taoiseach be prepared to consider a constitutional amendment to further guarantee the rights of citizens and put an end to the employment of such abusive measures as were represented by the introduction of internment without trial 50 years ago? The Taoiseach will remember it well, or some of his family might. He should smile and be proud.

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