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	Warning over Sex Abuse Inquiry Delay UTV September 20, 2011 http://www.u.tv/News/Clerical-sex-abuse-inquiry-delay/2641e82d-5b77-44c1-be9a-2999bd75adc2 The Executive is considering ordering an investigation into the extent of child abuse in Catholic Church and state-run institutions in Northern Ireland. Mr Robinson said most victims want a statutory inquiry with full powers to compel witnesses but there may be a significant delay. The move follows the Ryan Report which uncovered decades of abuse in some institutions in the Republic of Ireland. If we have to bring forward legislation it could be 18 months to two years before we would be proceeding. First Minister Peter Robinson Mr Robinson told the assembly there was a possibility of combining some statutory and non-statutory elements. "If we take the statutory route, the only statutory provision available for us at the present time would limit the period of an inquiry to between 1973 and 1989 and I do not think that is going to assist victims," he said. An alternative is to draw up fresh legislation, but that could take a significant period of time, Mr Robinson added. OFMDFM junior ministers Martina Anderson and Jonathan Bell have met officials responsible for historic abuse inquiries in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. The Executive Taskforce on Historical Institutional Abuse held meetings in Armagh, Belfast and Londonderry in March. The Executive announced in December last year that it would hold an inquiry and the taskforce is considering what its nature should be. Mr Robinson added: "It is important that if we have a statutory inquiry that the statutory element of it does not increase the pain that victims have already gone through. "In many cases, if they have to give evidence and be cross-examined, that may well do it and we cannot really have a statutory inquiry where the only person who was obliged to come and to give evidence and to be cross-examined is the person who is accused." Margaret McGuckin, who leads the Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse group, said members wanted speedy action and warned many people did not have two years to spare. "It is important that we have a statutory inquiry or else that would mean that they are getting off the hook, as simple as that - this would all just come to nothing." SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt acknowledged the work OFMDFM had carried out already. "It is about getting it right rather than getting it quickly. "The needs of survivors will ultimately only be able to be properly met, albeit over a longer period of time, if we have a fully independent, statutory-based inquiry," he said.
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