Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the training available to members of the Garda Síochána in interviewing children; his views on the opinion in the Ferns report that the specialist child protection units in Northern Ireland might provide a useful model for implementation in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31938/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the training of members of the Garda Síochána in interviewing children is dealt with during the student-probationer education-training programme as part of legal and policing studies. It includes the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and its related Treatment of Persons in Custody Regulations 1987; the Child Care Act 1991; the Children Act 2001; lectures entitled, Offences within the Family. This lecture sets out the legal parameters within which children may be interviewed.

Training is provided to the general membership of the Garda Síochána through continuous professional development. The training of members in the interviewing of children is provided by the Garda Síochána in liaison with the Health Service Executive and other relevant agencies in accordance with the children first guidelines of 1999. This training is ongoing and it is envisaged that all divisions will be completed shortly. In addition, members of the Garda Síochána participate in the postgraduate diploma course in child protection and welfare at Trinity College, Dublin.

On 25 October the Government accepted in principle the recommendations in the report of the Ferns inquiry and gave a commitment to their implementation by line Departments and relevant agencies. With regard to the recommendations relating to Garda procedures, I have forwarded a copy of the report to the Garda Commissioner who is considering it and taking on board its recommendations in this regard. The Garda Síochána is constantly examining ways of establishing best practice in the area of child protection, in association with all other relevant agencies.