Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a report was received by her in July 2008 regarding the child protection policies practised in the Cloyne Diocese; if the report contains criticism of the way the Diocese of Cloyne dealt with allegations of child abuse; if she will detail those criticisms; the action taken by her to date on foot of the report; and if the report will be published. [45397/08]

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 in July, 2008. As soon as the report was received officials from 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 the OMCYA to the HSE.

Legal advice has been sought by my office in relation to the status of the report and possible publication of its contents therefore it is inappropriate to provide any details from the report.

My office acted by passing on the report to the HSE as the agency statutorily responsible to promote the welfare of children not receiving adequate care and protection and for consideration by the HSE in the formulation of a report to advise me in relation to possible notification of a diocese to the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation under the terms of reference of that Commission in relation to current child protection practices and polices in a diocese. The report referred to from the HSE has been received in my office and is under consideration.