Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald welcomed evidence of a “new and more transparent approach” by the Church in relation to child protection in the audit reports and said she would have them reviewed by the HSE.
Ms Fitzgerald said she also intended to meet shortly with the chief executive of the safeguarding board, Ian Elliott, and HSE national director Gordon Jeyes, to discuss the findings.
She said a “close working relationship” had developed over recent months between Mr Elliott and Mr Jeyes following her request for greater collaboration on foot of the Cloyne report.
“The purpose of this engagement is to ensure that the Church has in place the necessary structures and practices to safeguard children, and that it is operating in accordance with the provisions of the Children First national guidance,” she said.
Ms Fitzgerald said the reports demonstrated evidence of “a marked improvement” in two key areas of safeguarding practice, firstly that the reporting of allegations to the statutory authorities now occurs promptly and comprehensively, and secondly that the need to create and maintain a safe environment for children was accepted and implemented by each diocese examined.
The HSE, under Mr Jeyes, is also conducting an audit of practice in each religious order.
“We need to await the findings of this work before we can say with confidence that children are fully protected and that the lessons of the past have been learned and acted on. I also await the reports of the other dioceses," Ms Fitzgerald said.
She was working closely with Minister for Justice Alan Shatter on progressing initiatives announced following the Cloyne report and these were “a high priority” for the Government.
These include legislative provisions designed to better safeguard children, including putting the Children First guidelines on a statutory footing and the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Withholding Information) Bill.
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