People who report suspected child abuse to a range of concerned bodies would be immune from civil liability under legislative amendments being tabled by the Fine Gael spokesman for health and children, Mr Alan Shatter.
Mr Shatter said the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Bill, 1998 - as originally drafted by him - had extended legal immunity to those who, without malice, made complaints about suspected abuse "to a variety of statutory and non-statutory bodies concerned with the welfare of children".
However, Government amendments at committee stage narrowed this to cover only reports to the Garda or the health boards.
Mr Shatter said the new amendments, if accepted at today's Report stage of the Bill, would ensure that "never again could the threat of legal action be used by those guilty of child abuse to intimidate people who properly report their concerns and to obstruct an investigation being undertaken of their alleged activities."
He said the need for such immunity had been highlighted by the Murphy report into child abuse in swimming. This, he added, "commented on how those properly accused of child abuse successfully suppressed the allegations made against them by threats of civil proceedings".
The report went on to recommend that consideration be given to the provision of statutory immunity to protect those who, in good faith, complained of possible child sexual abuse. "These amendments give the Government a golden opportunity to speedily and positively respond to the recommendations of the Murphy report," Mr Shatter said.
