Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 569: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action being taken by her Department and the Health Service Executive to implement in full the recommendations contained within the McElwee report published earlier in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30808/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Following on from the release of the McElwee Report, my predecessor, Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Children, established a group comprising senior officials of:

The Office of the Minister for Children;

The HSE;

An Garda Síochána;

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform;

The Department of Education and Science;

for the purpose of:

(a) Reviewing adherence to the Children First Guidelines in light of the Report.

(b) Considering how to ensure better

knowledge of the Children First Guidelines;

training and education about the Guidelines;

communications and information exchanges;

structures and roles to ensure full adherence to the Guidelines by all the agencies encompassed by the membership of the group; and

(c) advising my Office regarding the matters covered above.

The group has had a number of meetings, and the members are examining methodologies to facilitate more pro-active management of current administrative systems, to enhance organisational procedures and compliance therewith, and to promote the full promulgation of the Children First guidelines. All the aforementioned actions will ensure that sufficient protections do and continue to operate within organisations that have any role in relation to those working with children, and that all are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

My Office also recently completed a detailed and wide-ranging review of Children First, and on foot of this a number of documents were published, including:

National review of compliance with Children First;

Analysis of submissions made on national review of compliance with Children First;

Service users' perceptions of the Irish Child Protection System.

The Deputy also raises the issue of implementation of the recommendations by the Health Service Executive. The Deputy's question has been forwarded to the HSE and I have requested that the HSE reply to the Deputy directly with regard to the information he has sought.