Vol. 506 No. 4
83 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Health and Children the safeguards in the child care legislation to protect the good name of persons who are the subject of malicious, unfounded and mischievous allegations of child abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15666/99]
The Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1999, which came into operation with effect from 23 January 1999 creates a new offence of false reporting of child abuse where a person makes a report of child abuse to the appropriate authorities "knowing that statement to be false". This is a new criminal offence designed to protect innocent persons from malicious reports.
A person guilty of an offence under section 5 of the Act shall be liable; on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
