Texts and Emails, Monday 23 August 2010
Topic: Childrens' Rights Referendum.
Panelists: Mary O'Rourke (FF), Charlie Flanagan (FG), David Quinn (Columnist, Irish Independent) and Geoffrey Shannon (Special Rapporteur for Children).
aha good to see Carey back! Too many boring old men lately.
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I'm opposed to the wording of the children's referendum because it could be used to challenge deportations of bogus asylum seekers on economic grounds. The wording is vague and that means unelected judges will decide what it means.
Joe, Wexford
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The children's rights referendum is another distraction from the economic crisis, just like stag hunting and civil marriage. It's the economy stupid.
Peadar Grant, Ballinteer
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Ireland should ready itself, sooner rather than later, to the fact that the stereotypical family is no longer the norm.
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Children have a right to a mother and a father. Have a right to know who these are. Have a right not to be given rights which effectively make adults out of them! Children's rights referendum - No Way. This leads to classic state interference in the natural family, which is still the best place to rear kids.
Kate
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Welcome back Sarah, so far you good enough to have "your own show". (tv3 take note). A sharp brain, an infectious likeability, a rare will to do good.
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Children should have a basic right to be reared by their own parents especially in the first 3 years. It should be an offence to put a child under 1 year into a creche all day long. Also each child has a natural birthright to be reared by parents of both sexes.
Ned
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Educate children at home. Forget school.
Tom
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A lot of the child abuse of the past would not have happened if children were not in state homes. I think it would be a step backward to give the state too much power over children, it would diminish the rights of parents and it is not a children's referendum: children would have no vote. I do not want to decide what happens to children, I do not even know.
Catherine Daly, Cork
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If a child in Ireland today is not protected by our existing laws then no new law will give them any real protection. On the other hand such a law could cause suffering for families incl children by over zealous interference by State employees.
Tony, Dublin 16
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Why do David Quinn and his ilk object to parties other than parents making decisions on child welfare? Unfortunately, some parents make decisions that are detrimental to the health or education of their children. I feel that at the centre of his argument is the exercise of power over what used to be termed 'chattel'.
Richard, Stillorgan
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A lot of our problems in the past have come from the State having too much power over children. Why introduce new children's rights which, in reality, will give even more power to the state to interfere with families at the expense of children and their real interests.
Donal
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Governments are there to govern the laws of the land not hold our hands, apologise and facilitate for all wronged people in the Republic of Ireland. We have become a nanny state unable to walk alone and why should we when the government is willing and ready to carry us on it's back. This does nothing towards helping us stand on our own two feet.