Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2010
108 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings her Minister of State for children has had with the Attorney General’s office on the issue of the referendum on children’s rights; the outcome of these meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20814/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra109 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings her Minister of State for children has had with other Departments on the issue of the referendum on children’s rights; the Departments he has met; the outcome of these meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20815/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.
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 early March.
The Cabinet decided that in view of the complex nature of the issues involved, all Ministers and Government Departments should consider the report and examine the implications of the proposed wording for their areas of responsibility. The Government therefore referred the matter to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion to carry out this work and report back to the Government.
A Senior Officials Group, working under the auspices of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Inclusion, has been reconvened to guide the interaction and coordinate the responses of all Government Departments. The Group comprises senior representatives of all of the key departments whose responsibilities work might be affected by the proposals, as well as the Attorney General's Office. The group has met once and will meet again before the end of the month. I spoke to the first meeting of the group and emphasised the importance of moving ahead quickly. Contact with the Attorney General's Office is also taking place directly with the relevant Departments, including with my Office.
The Government is giving priority attention to this matter but will need some time to consider the various and complex legal issues at the heart of this report, which was the product of two years of deliberation by the JCCAC.
