Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach has announced the date of 2 October. We welcome the decision to set the date and let the debate begin in earnest. Sinn Féin looks forward to participating in the debate on the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty on which the Irish people have already given their views. When will the referendum commission be established? Today's newspapers have a report on the appointment of a chairperson. When will the make-up of the commission, to disseminate information on the referendum in an even-handed manner, be announced? Did the Government receive advice from the Attorney General on the suitability, under the terms of the McKenna judgment, of sending of 1 million or several million postcards by the Minister for Foreign Affairs consequent on the deal done at the Council of Ministers? This appears to be in contravention of the judgment because it appears to promote only one side of the argument. Can the Taoiseach clarify if advice was received from the Attorney General and what responses were received if the opinion was sought? What is the cost to the taxpayer in sending the Minister's postcards to the electorate?

The Monageer report, the Ryan report and the new HSE inquiry into the deaths of some 20 children in care over the past decade all highlight the need to strengthen the protection for children, particularly those ostensibly in the care of the State. The response of the Taoiseach to the Government's intention vis-À-vis enshrining children's rights in the Constitution is uncertain and unclear. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, I am conscious of the second report presented on absolute liability. Sinn Féin was of the view that it required a constitutional amendment to ensure the best possible protection for children. Opinion was divided and I respect the opinions in the committee. Can the Taoiseach indicate - the opinions reflected in the committee excepted - when the Government will make a final determination of its position on this important matter? With the committee's deliberations expected to continue into the autumn period, when will the Government makes its position clear vis-À-vis the broader issue of children's rights being enshrined in the Constitution? I note from the Taoiseach's response that he does not intend to consider a constitutional amendment for the remainder of this year in this regard. Is he giving due consideration to a constitutional referendum on children's rights in the broadest sense? What is the earliest anticipated address of that which the Taoiseach can share with the House?

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