IRELAND
The Irish Times
Liam Reid, Political Reporter
The proposed statutory inquiry into the Dublin archdiocese is to be expanded to carry out an independent examination of every other diocese in the Republic, to establish whether there are current child protection concerns relating to serving priests.
The audit is to run as a parallel module to the inquiry, which will be investigating primarily the response of the church authorities to allegations of sexual abuse against more than 70 priests in the Dublin area.
It is envisaged the examination will then recommend whether or not other dioceses should be the subject of a full statutory investigation by the inquiry.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is expected to bring proposals to Cabinet next Tuesday on the expanded inquiry. The Irish Times has also learned that Circuit Court judge Yvonne Murphy has been asked to chair the inquiry.