Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan will report to the Government next week on talks he is having relating to the proposed referendum on children's rights.
This was revealed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who said that Mr Lenihan wanted to finalise his discussions with the Opposition, but accepted that it would take some time for people to reflect on the issue. Mr Lenihan had also been talking to other interested groups, he said.
Pressed by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte to say what the nature and timing of the referendum would be, Mr Ahern said the Government would like to deal with the constitutional amendment over the next few months, prior to the election, but it would like to get agreement on it.
That was why Mr Lenihan was having consultations. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny recalled that last November, the Government had proposed that Mr Lenihan would initiate discussions with the Opposition parties. He asked if it was Mr Ahern's intention to hold a referendum, either on the issue of "absolute defence" itself, as a single entity, or as an amalgamation of other proposals.
The exchanges took place during the Order of Business, when Mr Ahern said, in reply to other questions, that the House would debate the Moriarty report on payments to Charles Haughey.
An attempt by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent to demand a personal statement to the Dáil from Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Tony Killeen, on constituency representations made to the Department of Justice was ruled out of order under standing orders by Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon.
