BRITAIN/IRELAND: Shortcomings in vetting procedures for people working with children in Ireland could lead to a Soham-style tragedy occurring, child protection campaigners warned yesterday, writes Carl O'Brien.
While screening measures in Britain were harshly criticised yesterday for failing to prevent the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) said vetting measures in the Republic still lagged well behind those in Britain.
Campaigners also pointed out yesterday that a person such as Mr Ian Huntley, who gained employment at a primary school, would not face any vetting procedures in the Republic before taking up employment.
The majority of people wishing to work with children on a professional or voluntary basis, such as teachers, is still not vetted. Only people employed by health boards to work with children are currently screened.
The ISPCC's chief executive, Mr Brian Gilligan, said the Republic would become a "safe haven" for people wishing to abuse children unless child protection measures were substantially improved.
"The ISPCC accepts that people who wish to hurt and abuse children will seek to exploit any loophole in child protection systems in their efforts to access children and it is therefore vital that Irish society takes all necessary steps to ensure the system to protect children is as comprehensive as possible," Mr Gilligan said.
The Minister of State with special responsibility for children, Mr Brian Lenihan, said that plans were underway to expand the Garda vetting unit's work to include all full-time and part-time workers with children.
"We want a strong system. It is a very urgent issue. We're hammering out the shape of the system in stone at the moment and I hope proposals will be ready on the matter soon," Mr Lenihan told The Irish Times.
Yesterday's report into the Soham tragedy found "shocking shortcomings" in vetting procedures, which allowed Huntley to get a job as a school caretaker.
It said head teachers and school governors should be trained to ensure at least one member on each interview panel would be aware of the importance of safeguarding children.
Fine Gael's education spokeswoman, Mr Olwyn Enright, said it was unacceptable that teachers and other staff at schools were still not being vetted.
"This needs to be addressed immediately ... the Government claimed six months ago that it was working on its own proposals. However this legislation has not been seen and this Government has again failed to prioritise child safety in any real way," she said.
Last year Fine Gael proposed a national vetting procedure which would screen applications for school posts, and allow charities, voluntary sporting and youth organisations to access the screening system.
The ISPCC, meanwhile, has called for vetting procedures similar to those in the North to be established in the Republic.