Sir, - Now that the Government has apparently committed itself to a comprehensive series of measures concerning past and present child abuse, one could be excused for thinking that there is now a real sense of urgency in its commitment to updating our child protection systems. However, the evidence, in practical terms, suggests an administrative lethargy somewhat at odds with the Government's rhetoric.
On February 23rd, 1998, the Minister of State for Children, Frank Fahey, announced the establishment of a working group to review the child abuse guidelines in light of the Government's commitment to introduce the mandatory reporting of child abuse. The members of the group were announced the following week and they were given 12 months to complete their task. No report has of yet been made available - although I was told in January by a Department spokesperson that the same report would be available before the end of March.
As for mandatory reporting itself, the present - and previous - Government has done little but dither around the issue, and one remains understandably sceptical about its commitment to introduce it within the lifetime of the current Dail. Yes, it is a complex issue, and, yes, it does merit consideration in White Paper form, as the Government is now providing. But why wasn't this process set in train when the Government came to office - instead of being used, one suspects, as a tried and trusted way of saving face when disagreement on the issue surfaced between Fianna Fail and the PDs last year?
And last June, Mr Fahey, told the Dail that he was commissioning a study to review the national child abuse statistics - which would set nationally agreed definitions and criteria for the categorising of abuse between the eight different health boards. There has been no public mention of this study since, and we still don't have national child abuse statistics for 1998.
In fairness, Mr Fahey has done more than most of his predecessors in the position, but his own efforts are undoubtedly hampered politically by his junior status. The welfare of our children necessitates nothing less than the establishment of a senior Ministry to co-ordinate the activity now occurring across a myriad of Departments. And it would give children some political clout where it really matters, at the Cabinet table.
Moreover, the setting up of an Ombudsman for children is another idea that has often been suggested, but there is no real sign of a political commitment to its establishment. If the Government were to make a move on both these measures it would ensure much more focus around issues of child welfare and give real substance to the Government's putative commitment to our children. It would also belie the scepticism that one feels about the announcement of a package of measures, on the eve of a television documentary, most of which were commitments already made on the record by this Government. - Yours, etc., Sean Phelan, Policy and Information Officer, The CARI Foundation,
Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9.