Sir - the Fianna Fail manifesto for the last general election unequivocally committed itself to the introduction of the mandatory reporting of child abuse. When the new Government was formed, the two partners to the Coalition reiterated that undertaking. Subsequently, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre publicly welcomed that decision, as did a number of other concerned organisations. Now, through the medium of a parliamentary reply, with little explanation and without reference to the commitment already given, the Government has decided to withdraw that policy.
While there is disagreement among professionals on mandatory reporting, there are many with close acquaintance of the human destruction wrought by paedophiles who have no doubt about the need for such a measure. Our centre, with many years' experience of the patterns and consequences of sexual abuse, certainly has no doubts. Our professional staff have, time and time again, come across victims, sometimes of two generations, who have been abused as children by the same person. And sadly, some of these victims sought help as children from people in authority and were ignored.
The public will be aware of the disturbing revelations of various public enquiries and court cases in recent times which have clearly shown that there were persons, including professionals, who were aware of continuing abuse but who had done little or nothing to stop it.
In a recent TV discussion the Minister of State, Frank Fahy TD, argued that mandatory reporting would lead to so many reported cases of child abuse that the services would be unable to deal with them. But surely we must try to uncover all cases of the abused children even if they are going to tax our resources. How can we possibly bury our heads in the sand on an issue of such enormity? And is it really beyond the capacity of our booming economy to face up to this particular social evil? - Yours, etc.,
Chairman of the board of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Parkmore Drive, Dublin 6W.