News Letter
December 11, 2009
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Assessment-of-abuse-must-take.5903911.jp
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| Michael McGimpsey |
AN "assessment of abuse" needs to take place in Northern Ireland - but it should not be one which prevents justice being done for the victims.
That was the response of Michael McGimpsey last night to proposals from the Roman Catholic Bishops which outline their policies for protecting children and ensuring that allegations of abuse are dealt with properly.
The Health Minister has been selected by the Executive to be the lead Minister in relation to all of the issues arising out of the Ryan Report, which was published in May.
It was published by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, whose remit was to investigate all forms of child abuse in Irish institutions for children, and was debated in the Assembly at the beginning of last month.
On Wednesday, the Irish Bishops' Conference announced that they wished the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to "explore with the relevant government departments and statutory authorities, north and south, a mechanism by which to ensure that the Catholic Church's current policies and practices in relation to the safeguarding of children represent best practice and that all allegations of abuse are properly handled".
Mr McGimpsey said there was "no doubt that the issues involved need to be addressed in an open and transparent way".
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