The children's rights referendum remains a “top priority” for the Government despite its absence from the first programme of legislation, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has said.
Ms Fitzgerald insisted today it would be wrong to interpret this as a sign the proposed amendment to bolster children’s rights had fallen down the list of priorities.
“It’s quite normal for referenda not to be included in a legislative programme." She said referenda arise separately and are added to the programme.
On whether the referendum would be held later this year, as previously stated, Ms Fitzgerald said no timetable had been agreed but the Government favoured holding it “in the near, rather than the distant, future”.
The minister said she was examining wording agreed by an all-party Oireachtas committee last year and would be “linking up” with the Attorney General to discuss the matter before bringing the issue before Cabinet.
Asked if she was in favour of holding the vote on the same day as the presidential election in October, Ms Fitzgerald said this was one option that would be considered.
The minister said plans to establish a new executive agency for child protection, outside of the Health Service Executive, were at an initial stage.
Ms Fitzgerald was speaking at the launch of two new websites for young people with migraine and other headache disorders.
Up to 10 per cent of Irish children suffer migraine before the age of 18, and many remain undiagnosed.The migraineandme.ie (for primary schoolchildren) and migra-zone.ie (for secondary students) websites were developed by the Migraine Association of Ireland (MAI).
The sites aim to offer an interactive online space for young people with migraine to learn more about the management of their condition.
“Patient information and self-help websites are incredibly important tools not just for patients and their families but for everybody in the community,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
The association’s website, migraine.ie, has also launched a migraine monitor that assists patients managing their own migraines from the mobile phone.
