Stricter rules for state-funded staff

THE Minister for Children has indicated that state-funded employees who breach new guidelines being drafted on protecting children from sexual abuse will be fired from their jobs and face penalties.

There will be no mandatory reporting of suspected paedophiles under the revised Children First Guidelines as other countries had seen protection services flooded by dubious claims, he added.

Minister Barry Andrews also said he had complete trust in a Health Service Executive (HSE) check of dioceses nationwide despite calls by victims of clerical sexual abuse for an independent review of every diocese in the country.