Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she envisages the holding of a referendum on children's rights. [29509/11]

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 of the proposed referendum will be along the lines of that proposed by the All Party Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. Since taking office, both myself and my officials staff of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs have had a number of meetings with the Attorney General to progress this commitment. Work on the wording of the referendum is ongoing, focusing on ensuring that the proposed Referendum reflects the deliberations and conclusions of the Joint Committee and the commitment in the Programme for Government.

It is my intention to seek approval from Government for the proposed wording, with a view to holding the referendum next year.