The wording for the Children’s Rights referendum has been released.

The 31st amendment of the Constitution will propose a new article 42A.

It says that in exceptional cases “where the parents fail in their duty towards their children to such extent that the safety or welfare of any of their children is likely to be prejudicially affected, the State as guardian of the common good shall, by proportionate means as provided by law, endeavour to supply the place of the parents”.

It also makes provision for the adoption of any child where the parents have failed in their duty towards the child and where the best interests of the child so require.

It also says provision shall be made by law for the voluntary placement for adoption and the adoption of any child, adding that the best interests of the child shall be “the paramount consideration”.

The amendment also states that the views of the child will be sought and given due weight.

If it is passed on November 10th it will protect children from abuse and neglect, support families and treat all children equally.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the changes proposed will last a generation.

“For too long in Ireland we have lived by the dictum that children should be seen and not heard – on November the 10th this year, we have the opportunity to change all of that” he said.

“With the children’s referendum, it is proposed for the first time in the history of this Republic to ask the people to vote to insert an article in their Constitution – Bunracht na hEireann – dedicated entirely to children; as individuals , as citizens, in their own right” he added.

The government is to convene a  meeting of the Implementation Body of the Croke Park Agreement to see where further savings in the public service can be found.

It comes after the coalition announced yesterday that savings from hundreds of allowances paid to public servants can not now be achieved.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin had hoped to save at least €150 million a year from the plan but may now only achieve €3.5 million.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says the coalition needs to act and make savings.

“Get people around the table and say that this isn’t a realistic outcome of a fairly serious issue in terms of a 1.5 billion pot and 3 million is the outcome” he said.

“Surely that lack of success – or any sense of achievement or realisation of savings – is justification in itself for evoking clause 1 to convene a serious, substantive meeting of everybody to get them round the table” he added.

400 new jobs are being created in Limerick.

They will come on stream at financial services firm Northern Trust by 2017.

The company also has an office in Dublin.

It already employs more than 300 people at its Limerick base.

Our Business Editor Ian Guider explains the type of roles on offer.

“Northern Trust are saying the back-office operations for pensions funds, investment funds and people involved in trading shares will be handled out of thier office in Limerick” he said.

“Northern Trust are a huge American company; they would be a big settling and administration company for international finance” he added.

class="MsoNormal">The Minister for Education says he will seek legal advice on whether or not county councils can ask for proof of payment of the household charge before processing student grant applications.

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class="MsoNormal">Yesterday it emerged that Clare County Council has written to applicants seeking proof that their family has paid the charge.

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class="MsoNormal">The move has come under fire from the Union of Students in Ireland as well as the Opposition.

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class="MsoNormal">Whilst Minister Ruairi Quinn has described it as “reasonable”.

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class="MsoNormal">However speaking at the Oireachtas Committee on Education this morning Minister Quinn said he will get legal advice from the Attorney General on the matter:

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class="MsoNormal">“Yes, the matter arose to my attention yesterday morning – I will be getting legal advice in relation to it” he said.

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class="MsoNormal">“I’m not even sure what the practice is; because it’s devolved to the City of Dublin VEC”.

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class="MsoNormal">“But since it’s been brought to our attention now we will enquire on that” he added.