Vol. 504 No. 7
102 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the role, if any, his Department will play in implementing the measures announced by the Government on 11 May 1999 in relation to abuse of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12967/99]
My Department will play a central and constructive role in all aspects of the measures relating to abuse of children announced by the Taoiseach on 11 May.
In the first instance, as the Department with statutory responsibility for aspects of the industrial school and reformatory school system, my Department will be closely involved in assisting the work of the commission. My officials have already proceeded with work of providing for various elements of the commission's establishment. It is the Government's intention, as stated in the terms of reference of the commission that it will establish as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of physical and sexual abuse of children in institutions and in other places during the period from 1940, or such earlier date as the commission considers appropriate, to the present, including the antecedents, circumstances, factors and context of such abuse, the perspectives of the victims and the motives and perspectives of the persons responsible for committing abuse. The commission will receive wholehearted support and co-operation from my Department, including complete access to the officials and records of my Department and the provision of necessary resources.
On a more general level, the Government's measures relating to abuse of children arose out of proposals made to Government by a Cabinet sub-committee of which I am chairperson. That sub-committee will continue to have a close involvement in monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the measures and accordingly I and my Department will have a continuing close interest and involvement in the implementation of all the measures.
