McFadden welcomes announcement of date for children's referendum

Nicky McFadden TD has welcomed the announcement from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil this afternoon that the Children's Referendum is to be held on Saturday November 10.Deputy McFadden also commended the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald for the large volume of work she has been carrying out on the referendum to date."I am delighted to get confirmation from the taoiseach that the referendum is on November 10," the Fine Gael for Longford Westmeath said."It is a positive and a progressive move for the government to hold the referendum on a Saturday and I wholly support it.Deputy McFadden said, in many ways it is hard to believe that we have gone so long without enshrining children's rights in the constitution."Passing the referendum will have a profound impact on the way children are treated in this country - by the state, by our legal profession and by all who work with children."It will ensure we all take a child-centred approach, by making children the focus of every decision that is taken about their welfare."She encouraged the public to read the wording when it is published in the coming days.