There would be no question of any of the proposed amendments interfering with the core rights of the family already enshrined in the Constitution, representatives of the Catholic hierarchy were assured yesterday.
The Minister of State for Children, Brian Lenihan, met representatives of the Catholic hierarchy as part of consultations on the Government's proposed referendum enshrining children's rights in the Constitution.
The meeting came as the detail of the proposed referendum is to be finalised in the coming weeks and will be brought to Cabinet at the end of the month or in early February for approval before being published.
In a meeting described as "constructive and cordial" by both sides, Mr Lenihan outlined verbally the Government's reasoning behind the amendments, and its current thinking on how the amendments should be made.
The wording has yet to be finalised, but in general it will seek to strengthen the position of children, who currently enjoy limited specific rights. Officials describe the proposals as "a recalibrating and a rebalancing" of rights.
The bishops are understood to have sought further information from Mr Lenihan on the specific detail of the proposed constitutional amendments, and further talks and contact are expected between both groups.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for Mr Lenihan said the meeting with the bishops was a "constructive, cordial meeting".
The bishops' delegation was headed by Bishop Colm O'Reilly of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise and Bishop Leo O'Reilly of Kilmore.
Mr Lenihan's spokeswoman said it was planned to finalise the wording with a view to bringing it to Cabinet for approval by the end of the month. A referendum is expected in March.