McGimpsey responds to proposals from the Roman Catholic Bishops
Thursday, 10 December 2009The Health Minister has responded to proposals from the Roman Catholic Bishops which outline their policies for protecting children and ensuring that allegations of abuse are dealt with properly.
Michael McGimspey has been asked by the Executive to be the lead Minister in relation to all of the issues arising out of the Ryan Report.
The Irish Bishops’s Conference yesterday announced that they wish the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to, "explore with the relevant government departments and statutory authorities, north and south, a mechanism by which to ensure that the Catholic Church’s current policies and practices in relation to the safeguarding of children represent best practice and that all allegations of abuse are properly handled."
Responding to this announcement, Michael Mc Gimpsey said: "It was agreed that I would take the lead within the Executive to explore how we will deal with this issue of clerical and institutional abuse within Northern Ireland.
"There is no doubt that the issues involved need to be addressed in an open and transparent way and that these issues cut across the responsibilities of a number of Executive Departments and the Northern Ireland Office. This is why I have previously written to my Executive colleagues and the Northern Ireland Office in response to the Ryan commission report seeking their views. I am awaiting responses from a number of key Departments.
"My officials are currently preparing a paper for the Executive setting out options for dealing with the issue of historical abuse within Northern Ireland. It has been agreed by the Assembly that an assessment of abuse needs to take place within Northern Ireland. However, in the interests of safeguarding children now and in the future and in the interests of seeing that justice is done, I would oppose any arrangement which protects the anonymity of child abusers and fails to result in criminal prosecutions of such individuals.
"I believe, following the recent Assembly debate, that this view point is now shared across all parties within the Assembly."
The Minister continued: "The final decision on what approach is adopted to addressing historical abuse in Northern Ireland will rest with the Executive as a whole.
He added: "My officials have had some preliminary discussions with representatives of the National Safeguarding Board for Children within the RC Church about their proposal. I would generally welcome this announcement as having the potential to provide the public with independent reassurance about how children are now protected within the Roman Catholic Church.
"My officials will also take the opportunity to discuss with representatives of the National Safeguarding Board the possible implications for cases of historical abuse.
"As a government, we have a responsibility to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse. I hope that we can achieve a consensus within the Executive on an approach which will meet the needs of victims whilst at the same time ensuring children are protected now and in the future from persons who may pose a risk to them."
Notes to editors:
1. The Redress Board came into effect on Monday 2 December 2002 under the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002.
2. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established on 23 May 2000, under the "Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000."
3. The report of the Ferns Inquiry was published on 25 October 2005.
4. The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) was published on 20 May 2009.
5. In response to the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse 2009, the Irish Government published its Implementation Plan on 28 July 2009.
6. The Northern Ireland Assembly debated the Ryan Report on 2 November 2009.
7. On 22 October 2209 the Northern Ireland Executive asked Michael McGimpsey to assume the role of lead Minister within the Executive.
8. The Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin was published on 26 November 2009.
9. The motion adopted by the Irish Bishops conference was as follows:
"It has been agreed to request the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to explore with the relevant government departments and statutory authorities, north and south, a mechanism by which to ensure that the Catholic Church’s current policies and practices in relation to the safeguarding of children represent best practice and that all allegations of abuse are properly handled."
10. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church is Mr Ian Elliott who was formally the head of the NSPCC in Northern Ireland.
11. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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