BishopAccountability.org
	Andrews under Fire for Delay Releasing HSE Report By Paul O’Brien Irish Examiner December 20, 2008 http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=80523-qqqx=1.asp CHILDREN’S Minister Barry Andrews welcomed publication of the National Board for Safeguarding Children report and pledged to publish a separate HSE report on the issue as soon as legal advice allowed. But the minister was heavily criticised by the opposition, who said Mr Andrews was among those at fault for the delay. “This report has been with Barry Andrews since last July and should have been published by him long before now,” Labour TD Sean Sherlock said. “It should not have required a political controversy to ensure that such an important report was published.” Mr Sherlock said the delay had “only added to the trauma of those who suffered abuse at the hands of some members of the clergy”. Mr Andrews has explained his refusal to publish the report by saying it was not “commissioned, paid for or evaluated” by his office. However, the report states that the Department of Health, which encompasses the office of the minister, asked the NBSC to investigate the issue last February. Because of this, the board gave Mr Andrews a copy of its completed report in July. Mr Andrews did not read the document, however, instead forwarding it to the HSE, which was conducting its own separate investigation on the issue. But Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter said Mr Andrews’ handling of the matter raised serious questions. “[The NBSC] report originated with a request by officials from the Department of Health and Children that an investigation be conducted into a complaint received by a minister and that the outcome of the investigation be reported back to the department. “Why did the minister suppress the report when his department received it in July last and, other than passing it on to the HSE, what other action, if any, did he take?” Mr Shatter also questioned why Mr Andrews had not yet released the separate HSE report he received on December 4 last. In a short statement, Mr Andrews said he would publish that document, subject to legal advice, “at the earliest possible date”. “I strongly welcome the decision by the Diocese of Cloyne to publish the report prepared by the NBSC into the handling of clerical sexual abuse allegations in the Diocese of Cloyne. “I believe that publication of the report will help allay concerns that information was being purposely withheld from victims of abuse and the wider public. Publication of this report illustrates the important role that the NBSC has to play in child protection matters relating to the Church. “As I have said before, subject to legal advices being prepared, I intend to publish the HSE report.”
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.