I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this extremely important matter. The recent and shocking revelations that a convicted paedophile was employed as chaplain to a Tralee hospital with unlimited 24 hour access to a childrens' ward necessitates the immediate introduction of extensive background checks on all those looking after children in residential centres and other areas. Setting up the often mooted national register of child abusers is now, more than ever, a matter of urgency. I urge the Minister to use the full powers of his office to act immediately and expeditiously to reassure the public that such a situation will not be tolerated again.
Surely the introduction of procedures by which the health boards must be fully briefed and involved in the decision-making process on all appointments and now, in particular, pastoral appointments, must be deemed a matter for immediate action? What action will the Minister take to set up an advice service for the parents of those children with whom this chaplain may have come in contact? Who is to help them as they attempt to confront an issue which is repugnant to society? Who is to counsel and reassure those vulnerable children? Will there be consultation between the parents, health board and the Church authorities? Will the Minister demand and facilitate this?
There is a suggestion in the newspapers today that the parents of these children should approach them and ask them what happened. We are talking about the years August 1990 to September 1993. What are the parents to say to their children? Who will advise or help them? We all know that it is not exactly a routine question any parent has to ask their child.
I am particularly concerned about the role of the Church in this affair. According to newspaper reports this morning among their number were people aware of the priest's criminal convictions before his appointment as chaplain to the Tralee hospital yet no one in any position of authority either in the hospital or the health board was informed. Why? The Church could not deal with the reality. At the cost of the health and welfare of children they preferred to ignore the situation and hope it would go away. Until the Church proves that it is capable of facing up to the real problems of sexual abuse, highlighted by this case, the Minister for Health must immediately act to ensure that they no longer have the right to unilaterally appoint staff to posts where they will come in contact with vulnerable young people in this way.
The public are informed and articulate. At the recent Progressive Democrats conference in Cork, I called on the Minister for Education to say who is looking after the children. I did not think at that time I would need to call so soon on the Minister for Health to ask him not to shirk his responsibilities to those who do not yet have a voice in society, our vulnerable children.