Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his plans to have a constitutional referendum on children's rights in October 2011 with the presidential election; if the office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the office of the Ombudsman for Children and the post of special rapporteur for child protection will be strengthened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5441/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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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 March 2010. The Cabinet decided that, in view of the complex nature of the issues involved, all Ministers and Government Departments, as well as the Attorney General, should consider the report and examine the implications of the proposed wording for their individual areas of responsibility. A new wording, which takes into account the proposals put forward by the Committee, and concerns which have arisen, has been drafted by the Attorney General's Office with policy support provided by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

On January 12th, the Government approved the policy objectives now proposed for the amendment of the Constitution in relation to Children's Rights; the wording for the referendum; the drafting of a referendum bill. It was envisaged that a referendum would be held on the same day as the General Election based on Departmental assumptions of a General Election date of 25th March. However the bringing forward of that date meant that a referendum was not logistically possible.

The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is giving consideration to the following tasks in preparation for the holding of a referendum possibly in conjunction with the Presidential Election later this year; drafting of a referendum bill; preparation of a policy paper on the adoption legislation proposals; undertaking research into public awareness and understanding of the issues involved. There are currently no plans to expand on the Offices mentioned by the Deputy.