Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to announce good news. Last Monday, at the Roscommon civic offices, the council voted 21 votes to 5 in favour of building much needed offices in Roscommon town. It will generate employment and provide facilities.

Next week all parties will have the opportunity to canvass for the children's rights referendum and to draw the attention of the public to the need for it to be accepted on 10 November. It is important for us to ensure that there is a large turnout. The referendum will give a clear mandate and will indicate to the public the importance of children's rights. We cannot take it for granted that people will vote in favour of it.

The campaign commenced when Bertie Ahern appointed Mary O'Rourke as Minister for Education and Science in 2007, an all-party report was produced in 2010 and the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, prepared wording that was agreed by the last Government. A similar wording has been produced by the Government as overseen by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.

This is a non-political issue. It is in the interests of the children of this country and in everyone's best interests that we would actively canvass, campaign and ensure people are brought to the polling station, if necessary, although it is not as necessary to do that as it was in the past.

I commend the Government for having the referendum on a Saturday and a later start time, thereby cutting down the costs. It will be a precedent for all future elections. Saturday is a day when people are available to go to the polls and this referendum will be a good test of that.

Fianna Fáil launched its campaign on Tuesday morning. We are 100% behind this campaign because it is not only in the interests of children now but of future generations of children.