AN appeal for the setting up of a national child abuse register came from the Fianna Fail front bencher, Mr Willy O'Dea.

In an adjournment debate, he said the horrific assault on a child by his father revealed in a recent Dublin Circuit Court case demonstrated the stark necessity for a register which would allow the State services to monitor children at risk.

The case involving five months old Paul Tiernan, who was admitted to Temple Street hospital suffering from seizures, bruising and fractured ribs only came to light because of a criminal prosecution which led to the conviction and sentencing of his father.

"One is filled with apprehension when one considers" all the other cases of child abuse which are normally held in camera in the family courts.

An abuse register had been recommended in the Kilkenny incest report, and if the Government failed to introduce it they would bear a heavy share of responsibility for what happened to children in situations where they were at risk.

The Minister of State for Health, Mr Brian O'Shea, said health boards already maintained registers of children who were abused, and any changes in the system should await developments in regard to the mandatory reporting of child abuse, which was at present under examination.