Fitzgerald must outline clear timeline for legislation following High Court ruling – FF

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children Robert Troy has called for Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald to set out a clear timeline for legislation giving effect to the Children’s Referendum in light of today’s High Court judgement.

Deputy Troy said: “Today’s ruling in the High Court clears the way for the Minister to bring in the necessary legislation to put the verdict of the Irish people in the Children’s Referendum into law.

“It is a source of great disappointment that it has been almost a year since the decision of the Irish people was taken and we have not seen it put into law as a result of the government’s complete mishandling of the referendum campaign.

“Minister Fitzgerald has hid behind this court case and has refused to answer any questions whatsoever on the Government’s referendum campaign which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that the government was in breach of the McKenna judgement just days before the referendum last November. I will now be seeking time in the Dáil next week to question the Minister on the Government’s handling of the referendum campaign.

“I welcome the fact that the Irish people supported the amendment to the Constitution but the government’s mishandling of the referendum did cast needless doubt over the outcome.  It is clear that the Government’s arrogance was a major fact in potentially derailing the decision of the people and I hope the Government will learn from this.

“I am pleased that we can now proceed to legislation and I look forward to engaging with the Minister on this matter in the Dáil.”