Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when it is proposed to publish the Bill to provide for a constitutional amendment on children's rights and when it is proposed to hold the referendum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1771/11]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the House is aware, the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children produced a wording for an amendment to the Constitution in February 2010. The Committee's proposal was longer and far more extensive in scope than the original wording which had been contained in the 2007 Referendum Bill. The proposal was examined by Ministers and by the Office of the Attorney General, and a wide range of policy implications were identified. In July, therefore, the Government asked me to develop a revised wording, working with the Office of the Attorney General.

Working very closely with the Office of the Attorney General, new wording has been developed which I believe could form the basis of a Referendum Bill. I submitted a proposal to Cabinet on Tuesday of this week, and got approval to draft a Referendum Bill. I am in discussion with the Attorney General about one final issue but am satisfied that that will be resolved shortly. I hope that the Bill will be published within weeks. I fully intend to share the proposed wording with the Opposition parties and seek their support for the proposal.