Senator David Norris misquoted The Iona Institute in the Seanad on Wednesday, incorrectly saying the institute was concerned that the proposed children’s rights amendment would “impinge on the power and authority of the Church.”

In fact in its statement on the proposed referendum, and in subsequent media appearances, The Iona Institute, and its director, David Quinn, said its main concern was that the amendment might give the State excessive power to intervene in family life as has occurred in other jurisdictions.

Senator Norris said that the position of The Iona Institute “seemed to be that it was concerned that any protection of children as individuals, as proposed in the referendum, would perhaps impinge on the power and authority of the Church.”

However, the statement issued by The Iona Institute on Tuesday said the following: “The proposed new children’s rights amendment, published today, will require close study. However, a guiding principle must be that any amendment must not give the State more power of intervention in family life than it needs.

“Overseas such powers have often been abused to remove children from their families in very controversial circumstances.

“Commenting on the proposed wording, Iona Institute Director, David Quinn said: ‘While the proposed wording will require further examination, we would be extremely concerned if this wording, while purporting to protect children, in fact gives the State more power of intervention in families than is required.

‘An amendment that gives the State the same sort of sweeping power as exists in other jurisdictions will ultimately not serve the best interests of children at all.’”