Vol. 418 No. 6
124 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a member of the Eastern Health Board alleged in a public broadcast that unemployment is a major contributor to child abuse and that there are unemployed men who have nothing to do but hang around the house all day looking at video nasties; and if he will undertake to have these unsubstantiated and unfair allegations refuted by his Department and by the Eastern Health Board.
I am aware of the remarks made by the person concerned and of the distress which they have caused unemployed people. I would emphasise that the remarks reflect the personal opinion of the person in question and do not in any way represent the official position of the Eastern Health Board or of my Department. I understand that the matter was debated at the meeting of the Eastern Health Board on Thursday last, 2 April when the health board agreed a motion in the following terms:
That this Board disassociates itself from the contention that child sexual abuse stems primarily from unemployment and fully supports the Board's efforts in preventing child sexual abuse.
