Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date on which the referendum on the rights of children will be held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25894/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs presented a copy of the third and final report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children to Cabinet in early March. The Cabinet decided that in view of the complex nature of the issues involved, all Ministers and Government Departments should consider the report and examine the implications of the proposed wording for their areas of responsibility.

A Senior Officials Group, working under the auspices of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Inclusion, was reconvened to guide the interaction and coordinate the responses of all Government Departments. The Group comprises senior representatives of all of the key departments whose responsibilities might be affected by the proposals, as well as the Attorney General's Office. The group has met twice and will complete its work shortly. The Government is giving priority attention to this matter but will need some time to consider the various and complex legal issues at the heart of this report, which was the product of two years of deliberation by the JCCAC.