Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has been presented with a copy of a report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in relation to complaints made against an organisation (details supplied) regarding complaints of a certain nature and containing recommendations to reform complaint procedures and child protection measures; the length of time the report has been in her Department's possession; if the report has been sent to the Health Service Executive; the length of time it has been in the HSE's possession, if that report has been published; if action has been taken against those at the centre of allegations; if the report has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions; if all recommendations have been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40435/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My office was sent a report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) relating to the Catholic diocese of Cloyne. As soon as the report was received my office requested the NBSCCC to forward the report to the HSE. As it later became clear that the NBSCCC had not forwarded the report to the HSE, and did not intend doing so, the report was sent by my office to the HSE.

As regards any action on foot of the report this remains at present a matter for the HSE as the agency statutorily responsible to promote the welfare of children not receiving adequate care and protection. I await the report and recommendations of the HSE as to whether the current child protection policies and practices in the Catholic church are being implemented and operated satisfactorily in the context of the terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin Archdiocese. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly in relation to actions taken following its receipt of the report.