Child sex abuse report - Another question of competence

The mishandling of one issue after another continues to raise questions about the competence of the Government. If the various ministers have learned nothing else from politics, surely they realise that the perception of a cover-up fuels rumours and speculation.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews went on RTÉ yesterday to discuss the controversy over the report into the mishandling of allegations of child abuse in the Cloyne diocese made to the Catholic Church between 15 and 20 years ago. It is understood that the report was commissioned after a number of abuse victims met with the current Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, while he was minister in charge of children’s affairs.

Mr Andrews contends, however, that the department did not commission the report. The Diocese of Cloyne and the author of the report have challenged the minister’s assertion. They contend that the Department of Health and Children initiated the report, which is being tossed around like a hot potato.

The assertion by Mr Andrews — that even though he has had the report for five months, he has not read it — is astounding. This appears a naked admission of shirking his ministerial responsibility. After reading it, he might not have wished to do anything about it, but at least he would know what was being suggested.

He seems to justify not reading the report by his assertion that his department did not commission it. He does not commission the reports relative to children that appear daily in the press. If he only reads what he commissions, his reading must be very limited, and this must surely bring both his competence and commitment for ministerial office into serious question.

The report was given to the HSE, which commissioned a second report, which is already completed. But the victims who were interviewed for the first report were not even approached in relation to the second report. This brings the real purpose of that report into question.

The Irish Examiner also notes today, there is a report that our existing laws on child pornography are too detailed, according to one of the Special Rapporteurs on Child Protection. The laws need to be broadened to ensure that those who exploit children in such a vile way are not able to escape prosecution due to legal loopholes. The latest report, which was put before the cabinet this week, suggests many changes are needed, but questions should be asked what changes were made on the foot of recommendations in an earlier report.

Too many reports are commissioned, often at considerable public expense, and then they are simply ignored and allowed to gather dust, until the original problem that sparked the report occurs again.

Two years ago the then taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, stressed the need to bolster children’s rights with a constitutional referendum that still has not happened. If members of the Government do not care about the most vulnerable in society — children— who can believe they care about anybody else?