“Yes for Children warmly welcomes the publication of the Bill to enable the holding of a Children’s Referendum on November 10. We fully support the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD, in her determination to build the maximum consensus in support of the Referendum, and we will do all in our power to assist that process in any way we can.

"We look forward to open, healthy and constructive debate about the issues affecting children. We pledge ourselves to campaign openly and honestly for change that will ensure a better future for all children in Ireland.

"As individual organisations and collectively, we believe passionately that this is a golden opportunity to enable the people of Ireland to send a strong and powerful message. All of us want to see our children protected. All of us want to see respect for our children and their childhood. All of us believe that the children of Ireland must be heard and taken seriously. All of us want to ensure that the things that happened to children in the past will never happen again.

"Ireland now has the opportunity to name children as a priority and to ensure that childhood is cherished and protected. We all pledge to work side by side, with the Government and the Opposition, and with the people of Ireland to ensure real and lasting change.”

__Ends__

Notes to the Editor:
Yes for Children is a national movement led by Barnardos, the Children’s Rights Alliance, the ISPCC and Campaign for Children. The campaign is committed to an open and honest debate on the issues that affect the real lives of children in Ireland. Yes for Children will engage with Government and the Opposition, and with the people of Ireland to ensure that children are protected and childhood is respected.