Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 813: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the promised referendum to amend the Constitution to strengthen the rights of children. [24242/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government 2011 states that the referendum on Children's Rights is a priority, and that the wording will be along the lines of that proposed by the All Party Oireachtas Committee. On taking office I instructed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to work with the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to preparing a draft wording which will more closely reflect the work of the Joint Committee, than that which the previous Government approved in draft form.

Accordingly the preparation of a draft wording is being undertaken by Parliamentary Counsel in association with the Advisory Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General and officials in my Department. I would hope to be in a position to submit the outcome of this work to Government for approval in the Autumn. It is envisaged that Government will be asked to approve the drafting of a Bill based on the wording submitted and to request the approval of the Oireachtas for the holding of a Constitutional referendum. The Taoiseach has stated that the referendum will not take place on the same day as the presidential election. There is a concern that to do so may unnecessarily and unhelpfully politicise children's rights, and that a separate referendum is more appropriate for this important and sensitive issue.