Children's rights referendum set for autumn
The Government has today confirmed that it will hold a children's rights referendum in the autumn.
Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore told the Dáil this morning the vote will take place on a stand-alone basis.
There has been repeated calls for the referendum following the publication of an independent report yesterday, which showed more than 200 children died while in State care over the last 10 years.
More than half of these died of non-natural causes including drug overdoses, suicides and unlawful killings.
Responding to a question from FF's Daragh Calleary, Minister Gilmore said legislation on the referendum will be published when the House returns after the summer recess.
