Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader to convey to the Cabinet the urgent need not only for a debate on the Roscommon case but for a referendum? We should reflect that in 1999 the then Minister, Deputy Frank Fahey, who had the portfolio of responsibility for children, wrote to the then chairman of the Joint Committee on the Constitution, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to ask it to carry out a constitutional review to discover whether it was possible to improve the rights of children as contained in the Constitution. That all-party review was undertaken in 2003 and came to the unanimous conclusion after 18 months of public consultation and meetings with scores of groups that the right of the child within the Constitution was not protected adequately. I am disappointed that almost a decade later this referendum has not taken place. Another committee has looked at this issue and made a further report. It is essential that we move on and hold this referendum. I ask that it be held on its own, a stand-alone referendum, to highlight the importance of this issue and that it not be held with other referendums to muddy the waters. If at all possible, it should be held next year. The Roscommon case is appalling, but it is not unique. There was the Kilkenny incest case and several others in the past ten or 15 years. Progress, to date, has not been satisfactory. I express my support for Senator Norris in his condemnation of the right-wing group which, for whatever reason, supported the parents in this instance. I was listening to a radio programme on my way here and somebody texted the programme to say, in effect, "Fair play to this right-wing group for its great work in intervening when nobody else did." Let us call a spade a spade. Its intervention to support a family in appalling circumstances allowed a continuation of the horrendous treatment, neglect and abuse of the children involved for a decade or more and its support should be highlighted for what it is. There should be a full investigation to discover where it is coming from and from where it is getting its funding.