Seán Barrett
Ceist:11 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice whether the recent figures issued by the ISPCC in relation to child sexual abuse have been brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Sexual Abuse.
John Bruton
Ceist:18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice when he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with the recommendations in Report No. 32 of the Law Reform Commission on child sexual abuse.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:33 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to implement the recommendations of the report of the Law Reform Commission on child sexual abuse, in so far as they relate to his area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Roger T. Garland
Ceist:62 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Justice if, in relation to the Law Reform Commission's report on child sexual abuse, he will be putting proposals contained in the report into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 18, 33 and 62 together.
I have seen a newspaper report on the Childline statistics.
In so far as the Law Reform Commission's report on child sexual abuse is concerned, a Bill dealing with evidence in criminal matters is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department. That Bill will take account of the commission's recommendations made in that report regarding the giving of evidence by children in sexual abuse cases. The other matters dealt with in the report which come within my area of responsibility are being examined in my Department as a matter of urgency and legislative proposals which I will have in relation to them will be announced in the normal way as soon as possible.
I should point out that many of the proposals in the report relate to child care law generally. Accordingly, they fall within the area of responsibility of the Minister for Health.
I accept the statistics the Minister has provided relating to the Childline service. Would the Minister agree that we should consider making it obligatory for doctors and health workers to report cases of child sexual abuse, as recommended in the Law Reform Commission's report? In view of the increase of 11,000 calls this year as against last year, would the Minister agree that we cannot await this legislation any longer? Would the Minister also explain why it is taking his Department so long to produce this legislation in view of the fact that the Law Reform Commission have produced a very detailed report on child sexual abuse? I would like to hear the Minister's views, particularly on the obligation on people such as doctors and solicitors to report child sexual abuse cases.
I must dissuade the Deputy from putting over-long questions.
There is much merit in what the Deputy said. The areas in the report that fall to my responsibility are the whole question of barring orders, covered in recommendations 28-33, which recommend a radical extension of barring order law in a number of directions. That is being examined in detail at present. The other sections and recommendations 34-47, and court proceeding recommendation No. 62, deal with criminal law and unlawful sexual intercourse. I can assure the Deputy that this is receiving urgent attention in my Department.
I have already referred to the fact that legislation will be brought forward by me. In relation to evidence in child sexual abuse cases, covered by recommendations 48-61, as I have already said, legislation in that regard is very well advanced and I hope to be in a position to introduce it very shortly. I share the Deputy's concern and every right thinking person would, that whatever protection society and the State can provide for children to safeguard them against abuse, whether sexual or otherwise, should be provided and I can assure the Deputy that I will not be delaying this legislation. This report, as the Deputy knows, only became available in the autumn of last year and I can assure him that I am doing everything I possibly can to bring into effect the sections for which I have responsibility.
A brief final question, Deputy.
May I ask the Minister what arrangements are in place for regular communication between his Department and the Department of Health on overall child care? Have his Department regular contact with the Department of Health with regard to the activities of the health boards and what the directors of community care should be doing in relation to child sexual abuse and the role, as I referred to earlier, of social workers and other health workers? What arrangements are in place to ensure there is a regular flow of information so that when the promised legislation comes before us it will take account of all the information gathered by the Department of Justice?
I asked for brevity and I have to say that the time available for dealing with priority questions is exhausted.
In relation to the protection and needs of children, there are ongoing discussions between the two Departments and also the Department of Education, who are involved in issues relating to children. I can assure the Deputy that the situation is constantly being monitored.
Let us come to deal with other questions.