Almost two hundred and fifty local residents attended a packed event in Liffey Valley’s Clarion Hotel last week to find out more information about the upcoming Children’s Referendum. There was standing room only at the Information Evening, hosted by Fine Gael Ministers Frances Fitzgerald and Leo Varadkar and addressed by RTE’s Olivia O’Leary and child law expert Dr. Geoffrey Shannon.
Residents from right across Lucan, Clondalkin and Newcastle attended the event and participated in the robust debate. Local organisations including The Clondalkin Carers, local fosterparents and parents were among those who engaged in the questions and answers session of the event. Olivia O’Leary who addressed the crowd stated that this Referendum “is a necessary foundation stone. Children are most precious, let’s treat them like that and let’s put them in our Constitution.”
Dr. Geoffrey Shannon S.C. stated that behind every child is a number. He spoke of a specific case where the marital status of a fosterchild’s parents had a direct effect on that child’s future with their fosterfamily. He spoke of what he described as “incredibly high legal barriers” for the adoption eligibility of fosterchildren in cases where adoption is in their best interest and called on people to take children out of the twilight zone and give them a voice. He allyed concerns from some members of the audience about the rights of the family assuring them that Article 41 will remain unchanged if the Amendment is accepted.
Local T.D. Frances Fitzgerald, who is the Minister proposing the Referendum, described it as critical in providing visibility in our Constitution for children. She stated, “As with all constitutional change, there are many questions, arguments and counter-arguments taking place. It can range from concerns regarding the wording to misinterpretation of its intent. But at its heart, the change we are recommending is not to be decided by the politicians, lawyers or the sensationalists. It is to be decided by the people – by all our citizens; You.