Constitutional Referendum

The Ombudsman for Children has been calling for an amendment to the Constitution to include children's rights since 2005. Constitutional change aimed at enhancing the protection of children's rights was first raised in 1993 by the Kilkenny Incest Investigation Committee. A major milestone was reached in November 2006 when then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, announced the Government's intention to hold a referendum on children's rights. Since then a lot of work has gone into developing a proposed wording, particularly by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children.

The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children made its recommendations public on 16 February 2010. The Ombudsman for Children's response can be read here.

Mid 2011 Emily was asked to contribute to a piece of research commissioned by Amnesty International Ireland. In Plain Sight - Responding to the Ferns, Ryan, Murphy and Cloyne Reports was published in September 2011. Emily's contribution Children's Rights and the Constitution can be read here.

Policy documents on the constitutional referendum on children's rights:

	Submission to the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children (February 2008
	Report to the Oireachtas on the Twenty-Eight Amendment to the Constitution Bill (March 2007)
	Advice on the proposed referendum on children's rights (December 2006)
	Submission to the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution (January 2005)