Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make statutory the guidelines on child protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16233/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if proper procedures are in place to ensure that information given to her Department or the Health Service Executive that have implications for child protection are appropriately acted upon; if the recommendations of the independent inquiry in relation to a lecturer in child care policy in Athlone Institute of Technology will be implemented; if a strategy for their implementation has been devised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16250/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 58 together.

The HSE have informed me that in all cases where there is a serious and immediate risk to the health or welfare of a child, they respond immediately and take appropriate action. They have also informed me that they are committed to addressing the recommendations of the Report of the independent inquiry into the lecturer in child-care studies in Athlone Institute of Technology.

One of the recommendations of the report is that the Children First guidelines be put on a statutory basis. This will be considered in the context of the review of the guidelines which is nearing completion in the Office of the Minister for Children.

Senior officials in my Office have convened an urgent meeting with key stakeholders in child protection, including the HSE and An Garda Síochána, to ensure that there is full awareness of child protection policies, guidelines and procedures.