Sinn Féin has written to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, urging him to convene an all-party meeting to determine whether there is enough consensus to move ahead with the referendum on children's rights.
Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald pointed to media coverage of issues relating to child sexual abuse as highlighting the urgency of Constitutional reform to protect children.
The Government's proposed referendum wording was published last week and the Taoiseach said he was determined to proceed with a referendum either before the election if cross-party consensus could be reached or in the autumn.
