Written answers

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Department of Health and Children

Child Abuse

5:00 pm

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the conclusions reached in the meeting that took place between the Minister of State for Children and members of the hierarchy in respect of the Health Service Executive audit and the church dioceses with regard to child abuse; if future meetings are planned; if it has been agreed that fully comprehensive replies will be furnished to the questions raised in part five of the questionnaire furnished by the HSE in respect of each dioceses; and when it is anticipated the audit will be fully completed. [6574/09]

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I met with senior representatives of the Catholic Church hierarchy on 24 January 2009. I welcomed the outcome of the Bishops' special meeting on Safeguarding Children, which had been held in Maynooth the previous day, and in particular, the Bishops' renewed commitment to providing the information sought in Section 5 of the HSE audit.

It was agreed by all present at the meeting that a fresh mechanism would be found to enable Bishops to provide the information that had been requested in the HSE Audit, Section 5, by separating issues relating to soft information, which all accepted present legal difficulties.

A further meeting is planned over the coming days to discuss plans for the gathering of the information requested by HSE under Section 5 of the audit. The mechanics of this will be worked out by the OMCYA in consultation with the Health Service Executive and the Church authorities.

The Church authorities and I agreed that further meetings would be convened to progress important issues concerning the safeguarding of children.

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