Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to any response from the bishops following a letter from Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, sent in October 2005 inquiring into whether the recommendations from the Ferns Report were being implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3045/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On foot of a Government meeting on 24 October 2005, the Minister of State with special responsibility for children wrote to the Irish Bishop's Conference both individually and collectively to seek confirmation that the church's framework guidelines of 1996 were being, and that the recommendations of the Ferns Report would be, implemented. The Minister of State asked that the church review and strengthen its child protection management structures and training practices with a view to improving them to a level which is commensurate with the role that the church plays in the community.

The Minister of State noted the public statements that the church had made since the delivery of the report. It welcomed the introduction of inter-agency groups in every diocese in the State. The Minister of State also advised the bishops that he had written to the Health Service Executive requesting them to liaise with the individual bishops to ensure that the recommendations of the report relevant to the church were being implemented. The Minister of State requested that arrangements be made to notify the HSE of the current child protection practices in each diocese and the additional steps that the church authorities would be taking on foot of the report.

Archbishop Brady replied to the Minister of State confirming that the Minister of State's letter had been discussed at a meeting of the Irish Episcopal Conference. The archbishop welcomed the inter-agency review process and confirmed that when contacted each bishop would liaise with the HSE. He added that the church was anxious to outline how recent church initiatives met the recommendations outlined in the Ferns Report. Each bishop has written individually to either the Minister or the HSE to confirm his willingness to work with the HSE in the interagency review process in ensuring best practice in child protection.

The inter-agency review groups will be convened, chaired and reported on by the HSE and will include representatives from the church and the Garda. The HSE has already set up the internal structures necessary for the implementation of the Ferns Report, is working on the formation of the inter-agency groups, is drafting terms of reference and has made contact with the church representative in that regard.

Under the commission of investigation terms of reference, as approved by Government, the Minister for Health and Children has the right to refer any Catholic Church diocese if, in her opinion, the diocese may not be implementing satisfactorily the recommendations of the Ferns Report. If there is a clear indication that the church authorities are not implementing the full recommendations of the Ferns Report, they will be referred and any follow-up action required will be taken to ensure proper child protection procedures within each diocese.

The recommendations of the Ferns Report are paramount in this whole area and it is against these that the child protection policy and procedures will be examined. I am firmly of the view that these recommendations, implemented in a spirit of co-operation, will provide both the Government and the church with the necessary measures to address problems of clerical sex abuse.