MINISTER OF State for Children Barry Andrews has not ruled out further investigations into the Roscommon child abuse case if necessary.
During a debate on child protection Mr Andrews said he very much looked forward to the report of the HSE-commissioned investigation, due within six months, but he and the Government “retain the right to carry out any further investigations deemed necessary in this case. I will keep this position under review,” he said.
The Minister also said he had “every confidence in the professionalism and integrity to deliver a comprehensive report”, of the independent chairwoman of the investigating team, Nora Gibbons.
Mr Andrews also said that “while I would not suggest that the State can absolve itself of responsibility in any circumstances”, an equally key consideration in the area of child welfare” was “societal responsibility. It is the responsibility of each and every individual in Ireland to play their part in protecting our children from harm”.
And the Minister stressed that “far from not learning the lessons spelt out by previous reports into other tragic cases, as has been suggested, these feed into the constant development and updating of policy in this area”.
Fine Gael spokesman on children Alan Shatter sharply criticised Mr Andrews and said it was the “height of hypocrisy” for him to call on Bishop John Magee of Cloynes to resign given the “incompetence” of Mr Andrews.
A succession of ministers have presided over an entire period during which child protection guidelines have been in place but not implemented, he claimed. “There is no uniformity of application of these guidelines anywhere across the country,” he added.
He said there was a need for an independent investigation, and he was critical of the inquiry.
Brendan Howlin (Labour, Wexford) said “there is now a clear public requirement that no organ of State can inquire into its own activities”.
In a statement, Norah Gibbons said the inquiry would be “thorough, open and expeditious” and the team had undertaken it with “seriousness and independence.” She would review the terms of reference if they “prove restrictive”.
