Interesting article from Ireland.

At issue is a referendum that would redefine the role of government in helping children the government determines may be in need of assistance.

While it sounds to some like a praiseworthy goal, the analysts have doubts.

“The threshold of intervention “¦ reveals this new approach: “when the safety or welfare’ of children “is likely to be prejudicially affected’, the state can intervene,” they write, “and take various kinds of measures, from family support to compulsory adoption.”

The current standard allows government to intervene “when the parents fail.”