KENNY WELCOMES CHILDREN'S REFERENDUM WEBSITE

Posted on October 5, 2012 11:01 AM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour Party T.D. Seán Kenny, has welcomed the new dedicated information website for the Children's Referendum www.childrensreferendum.ie.

"Available in both English and Irish, the website includes the referendum wording, as well as a guide to the proposed changes, factsheets on topics such as adoption and foster care, and answers to frequently asked questions about the referendum.

"The legislation to allow this amendment, the Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012, completed all stages of debate in the Oireachtas this week, with the full support of all TDs and Senators.

"The debate on this referendum must not belong solely to experts or politicians, this is a debate for all citizens. It is for this reason that the Government is committed to running a major information campaign for the Referendum, which includes this website www.childrensreferendum.ie, as well as the distribution of an information booklet to every home in the state.

"I would encourage everybody to read the wording on the information website www.childrensreferendum.ie. If you do, you will see that it is very clear in its objective. This referendum is about treating all children equally, in particular by removing inequalities in adoption, and about protecting children from abuse and neglect. It is about supporting families and also recognising children in their own right. Families are still protected with this amendment, as the wording stresses that anything done to protect children must be proportionate.

"People opposed to the referendum, who are trying to stir up fear about the State running roughshod over families, are really not on very solid ground when they make that argument. The vast majority of commentators are in support of this referendum, even conservative commentators. I would ask people to bear that in mind, and also to read the wording of the amendment for themselves."