Tuesday 29 May 2012: For immediate release

Children’s Rights Alliance
PRESS RELEASE

Children’s Rights Referendum Must Go Ahead in October Regardless of Thursday’s Fiscal Treaty Outcome

Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, is urging Government to go ahead with the Children’s Rights Referendum, widely tipped to be held in October, regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s referendum on the Fiscal Treaty.  Rumours are circulating that there will be no Children’s Rights Referendum should the Fiscal Treaty referendum fail on Thursday.  

Speaking at the Children’s Rights Alliance AGM in Dublin, Tanya Ward, Chief Executive says: “The children’s sector in Ireland has campaigned long and hard for a strong, comprehensive children’s rights constitutional amendment, and it would be quite wrong for the referendum not to take place, because of Thursday’s results.  Regardless of whether the Government wins or loses, it should have no bearing on the date of the Children’s Rights Referendum.  We need to urgently hold the Referendum in October, and will categorically campaign for such.”

The Alliance AGM focuses on the work of the previous year, with much attention placed on the forthcoming Children’s Rights Referendum.  This year, public lectures will be given by Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and member of the UN Human Rights Committee and Professor Aoife Nolan from the Nottingham Human Rights Centre.  Both address the need for rigorous scrutiny of human rights reporting in Ireland.  

The Children’s Rights Alliance’s Sixteenth Annual General Meeting is on Tuesday 29 May 2011, from 2pm to 4.15pm in European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (public lectures starting at 3pm).  

___ENDS___

For further information and interview bids, please contact:
Carys Thomas, Communications Director
Tel: (01) 662 9400 / 087 7702845; Fax: (01) 662 9355
Email: carys@childrensrights.ie