Madam, - Last Friday marked the first anniversary of the publication of the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection. The joint committee was established on foot of grave public concern and political outcry following the Supreme judgment in the C.C.case.
At the time of its publication the report was broadly welcomed, with many of those working in the area of child protection calling for most, or indeed all, of its recommendations to be implemented.
Twelve months ago this report set out the basis upon which Ireland can become a leader in best practice in child protection. The report was a direct response to the public and political outcry which resulted from the striking down of Ireland's statutory rape law by the Supreme Court. We, as agencies working to address child welfare concerns on a daily basis, are concerned that, as the spotlight moves to other areas of public and political concern, the recommendations of this report may not be fully implemented.
Whilst there has been progress in some areas, most notably a commitment to a constitutional referendum that will seek to enshrine express rights for children in Bunreacht na hÉireann, it should be noted that the bulk of the recommendations of the report have not as yet been acted upon.
The need for the kind of reform outlined in the report is no less pressing 12 months on from its publication. The level of political pressure may have diminished but the case for reform has not.
We urge Government to issue a progress report which sets out in a transparent manner what has been advanced to date and a framework for further developments. We will seek to meet with all relevant persons across the political spectrum in an effort to push for the implementation of the reports recommendations.
We remain determined to play an appropriate and constructive role in ensuring that we and all other interested parties work with Government to ensure best practice in child protection and child welfare in Ireland.
We have learnt much as a society in recent years about the impact of failures in this area; we can and must use that learning to provide better protection to today's children and more complete and meaningful responses to those we have failed in the past.
- Yours, etc,
NORAH GIBBON, Advocacy Director, Barnardos;
MARY FLAHERTY, National Director, Children At Risk In Ireland;
ELLEN O'MALLEY-DUNLOP, CEO, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre;
OLIVE TRAVERS, Chairperson, National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (Nota) Ireland;
COLM O'GORMAN, Director, One in Four;
FIONA NEARY, Executive Director, Rape Crisis Network Ireland;
MARY CRILLY, Director, Sexual Violence Centre Cork, c/o Holles Street, Dublin 2.