Govt starts drafting child-protection laws

The Government has started drafting legislation to allow the use of so-called "soft information" for vetting people working with children.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen said it is a priority for the Government, after what he described as the "harrowing litany" of abuse uncovered in the report into the Dublin Archdiocese.

So-called "soft information" relates to suspicions held by the authorities where a person hasn't been charged with any offence.