Having consulted with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I can assure the Deputy that any suggestion that the Government is opposed to the promotion and defence of children's rights at the European Convention is unfounded. It is correct that an initial draft article of the new constitutional treaty, dealing with the role of the EU in the world, contains a reference to children's rights. While this is positive the draft has also some shortcomings. For instance, it does not refer to any other human rights nor does it mention the United Nations. Like a number of other Convention members, my colleague, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Deputy Roche, proposed an amendment based on clearer and more comprehensive wording agreed earlier at a working group. His proposal refers clearly to the United Nations and to the "universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms". This would ensure that all human rights – including children's rights, the rights of the disabled, the right of men and women to equality – were equally valued in the draft treaty. The aim is that the treaty should be as succinct as possible. If it is decided to list the different categories of rights individually the Government will work to ensure that children's rights are included.
