Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

Officials in my Department and I are continuing a substantial engagement with the Attorney General and her officials to progress the Government's commitment to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to ensure children's rights are strengthened along the lines recommended by the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. The immediate focus of this engagement is the preparation of a draft wording to be put to the people for consideration during the current year. The process is strongly focused on ensuring the proposed wording of the constitutional amendment reflects the deliberations and conclusions of the joint committee and the commitment in the programme for Government.

In parallel with bringing forward the proposed constitutional change in favour of children's rights, there is a need to provide for clarity around related proposals for legislative change regarding adoption. Work is ongoing in this regard and the matter has been the subject of comprehensive legal and administrative analysis, including by officials of my Department. Consideration of the policy issues which will arise from the proposed amendment to the Constitution in regard to adoption is at an advanced stage. The draft heads of the Bill and the general scheme will reflect the policy in this area. One of the policy objectives of the proposed legislation is to provide for the situation of children of marriage who remain in long-term foster care without the option of adoption. Some of these children are in need of a permanent alternative family and adoption would be in their best interests. It is intended to publish the draft legislation on adoption policy at the same time as the draft wording of the proposed amendment to the Constitution.

The referendum on children's rights is a programme for Government priority. The Government is satisfied that the nature of the referendum is such that it will be a stand-alone matter to allow for full attention and engagement by the public in the interests of children. As indicated, I intend to be in a position to seek approval from the Government for the proposed wording with a view to holding the referendum this year.

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