The Ombudsman for Children says she has serious concerns about the proposed Constitutional referendum on children's rights.
Emily Logan says she does not support holding a limited referendum dealing only with the issue of child protection, which could run alongside the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Ms Logan said the issue of children's rights is much broader.
Some TDs have called for an early, limited referendum to allow the Oireachtas to enact criminal legislation to protect children from sexual predators.
The idea of a mini-referendum on child protection was put forward by Fine Gael in a bid to strengthen the law, after charges of sexual assault against the man known as Mr C, were dropped at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month.
Mr C had taken his case to the Supreme Court, arguing that he should have been allowed to use the defence of honest mistake about the age of the complainant.
His successful challenge led to legislation about unlawful carnal knowledge being declared unconstitutional.
But today Ms Logan voiced concerns that isolating this part of the proposed children's referendum could mean that other important children's rights are either delayed or not put into a referendum at all.
She said it remains a crime to engage in sexual relations with a child, but whilst the law needs to be strengthened it should not be done before all the issues are considered.
A spokeswoman for Minister of State for Children Brendan Smith said last night that discussions between the Government and the Opposition are ongoing, and that no decision about an early referendum has yet been taken.
