Concerns over lack of priority for laws on disclosing abuse

NEW laws to allow churches and other bodies to exchange “soft information” on suspected paedophiles are not being given the priority they need in upcoming legislation, the opposition warned last night.

Concern was expressed that the reform is well down the government’s legislative programme for the Dáil, published yesterday.

The change in the law allowing information, containing suspicions that child sex abuse may be occurring rather than concrete evidence, is in section C of the schedule as the heads of the bill still need to be drafted.