Groups seek tighter child protection controls

Six leading advocacy and abuse groups have sought a complete overhaul of child protection services in the wake of the Ryan Report into institutional child abuse.

The groups have described current laws as 'woefully inadequate' and they want a date set for a referendum on children's rights before the Dáil breaks up for the summer.

The victims groups including One-in-Four have also called for extra State funding to deal with the upsurge in calls for help following the release of the Ryan Report.

Representatives from the groups also sought a new inspection regime for children in care when they met Minister for Children Barry Andrews this afternoon.