Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Reporting of Child Abuse.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

166 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the alternatives, if any, he proposes to put in place to assist those who wish to report allegations of child abuse without fear of libel action in view of the Government's decision not to proceed with mandatory reporting of child abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8367/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Throughout 1996 my colleague Deputy Currie, Minister of State with special responsibility for child care, hosted a consultative process on mandatory reporting. The process examined not only the issue of mandatory reporting but also other aspects of our child protection services. In response to the views which were expressed by child care professionals and others who participated in the consultative process, a series of initiatives were published to best promote and protect the rights of children in “Putting Children First — Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Children”.

The proposed initiatives are: (i) designated officers in the health boards to co-ordinate inter-agency approaches to child protection at community care level; (ii) regional and local child protection committees, operating at health board and community care level, to enhance inter-agency and inter-professional approaches to child protection; (iii) multi-disciplinary training, under the aegis of the regional child protection committees, to increase inter-agency and inter-professional approaches to child protection; (iv) the new social services inspectorate to review the 1987 child abuse guidelines and the procedure for the notification of suspected cases of abuse between health boards and the Garda; (v) a public information campaign to heighten public awareness of child abuse and of the system to respond to cases of child abuse; (vi) the provision of support services by health boards for victims of past abuse; (vii) funding of voluntary agencies dealing with children to be conditional on procedures being in place to deal with allegations of child abuse; and (viii) evaluation of the impact of the above measures on the reporting of child abuse.

My Department is also developing proposals on the establishment of a body to promote and protect children's rights, such as an Ombudsman for Children. The Minister of State has given a commitment that he will evaluate the impact of these measures on the reporting of child abuse. If, following this evaluation, it is clear that the introduction of mandatory reporting would be in the best interests of children, or that some form of statutory basis to ensure co-operation between agencies is required, the necessary legislation will be introduced.

My paramount concern and that of my colleague, the Minister of State, has always been what was in the best interests of children. I was heartened that this was also the paramount concern of all those who participated in the consultative process of mandatory reporting. However, it was suggested in a number of submissions that sight should not be lost of a person's right to his or her good name in dealing with the reporting of child abuse and the Minister of State was conscious of the need to maintain an appropriate balance in this regard in developing the initiatives outlined above.