Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

The Programme for Government 2011 - 2016 states that the referendum on children's rights is a priority and that the wording of the proposed referendum will be along the lines of that proposed by the all-party Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, JCCAC. From the outset of deliberations on the constitutional amendment on children's rights, the need for all-party consensus on this topic was highlighted. Having been a member of the JCCAC alongside Deputy Ó Caoláin, I can attest to the level of all-party co-operation afforded the then Government in the work of the committee. I pay tribute to the work of the Chairman of that committee, former Deputy Mary O'Rourke.

Both myself and officials of my Department have engaged extensively with the Attorney General and her officials to formulate a draft wording for the proposed constitutional amendment. Contact in that regard is ongoing and, as part of normal process, will involve consultations across the relevant Departments in advance of presentation of a proposed wording to Government for consideration. Integral to the passing of the proposed amendment will be a change as regards adoption law in the position of children of marriage and married parents. To ensure that the public are fully informed of the nature of the proposal and the consequences of approving it, the proposed amending legislation in the area of adoption will be published along with the wording of the amendment.

Publication of the referendum Bill will have regard to the need to allow an appropriate period for the proposal to be fully debated and considered by the public and by the Oireachtas.

I have already undertaken informal consultations with the political parties and others and I intend to continue to consult with Opposition spokespersons as the preparations which are currently under way progress. I also envisage that the issue will be dealt with in the Joint Committee on Health and Children.

The Government has yet to consider the matter of the precise referendum date but it has already decided that it will take place later this year and will be held on a stand-alone basis. The significant and complex work currently being done is geared towards this timeline and objective.

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