Call for cross-border front against sex offenders

A major conference on child protection will hear calls this morning for serious examination of the law to prevent sex offenders slipping into this country.

Barnardos and the ISPCC want gardaí to liaise more with the police service in Northern Ireland and to introduce more stringent vetting systems for those working with children.

Barnardos chief executive Owen Keenan says that at the moment, co-operation levels are grossly inadequate.

“We believe that it's very important there be consistent arrangements on both sides of the border and also very comprehensive sharing of information.

"We believe that the absence of those arrangements at the present time represent a risk to children and we feel that there is no other area of north south co-operation that is more necessary,” he said.