Report into AG's rape crisis failure

The Government has received a report by a top Department of Finance official into communications failures in the Attorney General's (AG) office before last month's statutory rape crisis erupted.

The result of the investigation by Eddie Sullilvan may be published as early as today, Government sources said last night, but they refused to give any hint of its findings.

In the wake of the release of a man who had raped a 12-year-old girl, it was discovered that the AG had not been told by one of his officials that the man had launched a Supreme Court challenge.

One official had prepared a briefing paper on the case and the implications of a defeat for the State, but this was never given to AG Rory Brady by another official, it is understood.

Mr Sullivan, who is one of Finance's top-two officials and is in charge of public service management and development, has interviewed many of the officials in the AG's office, and others.

Meanwhile, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell is close to agreement with the Opposition about setting up an Oireachtas committee to review all child-protection legislation.

Mr McDowell and Minister of State Brian Lenihan held a number of meetings with Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keeffe and Labour TD Brendan Howlin on the terms of reference during the course of events yesterday.