Yes campaign hits town

THE Yes For Children campaign bus rolled into Ennis and Ennistymon on Wednesday, engaging and informing locals on the upcoming Children’s Rights Referendum.

THE Yes For Children campaign bus rolled into Ennis and Ennistymon on Wednesday, engaging and informing locals on the upcoming Children’s Rights Referendum.
Joining the local volunteers on the bus was Ashley Balbirnie, CEO of the ISPCC, who stated that if the referendum is passed, “We firmly believe that it will make Ireland a better place to grow up.”
Yes for Children is a national campaign, led by Barnardos, the Children’s Rights Alliance, the ISPCC and Campaign for Children, following the announcement that the Children’s Referendum will be held on Saturday, November 10.
Mr Balbirnie believes knowledge about what the referendum is about is beginning to grow. “So far, the campaign has been going great.We started the week before last so we were very much the first people out there. At that stage, there was a major information deficit. The campaigns, even the political parties, hadn’t really started so it’s been interesting for us watching the knowledge level inching up in the last couple of weeks. The referendum booklets are arriving into people’s homes and as that happens, that will crank up the information levels significantly and that will help the debate.”
So far, the campaign has been receiving a mostly positive response. “The reaction initially from people was that they’d heard a bit about it. There was a lack of information initially but that is changing now. The overwhelming response has been positive, although not totally. Everywhere we go, we get a couple of very staunch No-ers but, by and large, the feeling is it’s something that is overdue and can only be a good thing.”
Outlining the Yes for Children’s stance on the referendum, he stated, “We fundamentally believe the State will be a better place for children to grow up after the referendum than before. There is nothing there that is going to shatter things overnight but we do believe fundamentally that the Constitution, being the primary law of the land, has to be right in terms of children. This means, in very simple terms, that, one, the child as an individual does have rights that is firmly stated in the Constitution and two, in cases that effect the child, in particular legal cases, the phrase, their best interest, is taken into account.”
He concluded, “We are delighted to bring the bus to County Clare.  In order to make sure we bring this important message to the people of Ireland, there will be a Yes for Children Bus Campaign, which will visit over 40 towns, cities and communities throughout Ireland with Yes for Children members and supporters.  We want to meet and talk to as many people as possible to ensure people fully understand the importance of a Yes vote and what it means for children and families across Ireland.”
Yes for Children spokesperson Rhona McGinn said, “We are delighted to be in Clare to speak to the general public about the upcoming referendum and the importance of a Yes vote.  For too long now, children have not been viewed as individual citizens with rights and, as such, have not been adequately protected. Voting Yes in the upcoming referendum will ensure children are visible in the Constitution and afforded appropriate support and protection, where necessary.”