Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together.

When I last answered this question I indicated that two potential referendums are being considered for 2009, one about the Lisbon treaty and the other about children's rights. As regards the Lisbon treaty, at the European Council on 18-19 June, Ireland secured the guarantees that we required on tax, neutrality and ethical issues. These will become part of the treaties by means of a protocol. The Union reaffirmed the importance of workers' rights and public services. We reached agreement that each member state would retain a Commissioner.

Since the outcome of the last referendum, our over-riding objective has been to work with others in the Oireachtas to address the concerns expressed by the people. I believe that these concerns have been addressed now in the shape of the legal guarantees agreed by the 27 Heads of State and Government of the European Union. On this basis, I will recommend to the Government that we will return to the people to seek their approval for Ireland to ratify the treaty. That referendum will take place on 2 October.

The other potential referendum is in the area of children's rights. While there are increasing calls for a referendum on children's rights since the publication of the Ryan report, a decision on whether constitutional change is the right way forward must await the outcome of the deliberations of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. The joint committee is due to report in October. While there might be a referendum on children's rights, it is unlikely to be in 2009 in view of the timelines involved.

The second interim report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children on absolute or strict liability in respect of sexual offences against or in connection with children was published in May. On the central issue of a constitutional amendment to re-instate absolute liability in the wake of the CC case, the report states that "two distinct views emerge" and that "the Committee has not been able to reconcile these views and, accordingly, is unable to make an agreed recommendation on the issue". The different views emerging from the committee's report are now being examined and proposals are to be brought to Government in due course.

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