RCNI Press Release 12 september 2008

Fiona Neary, RCNI Director, said ‘we welcome the decision on vetting and the sharing of soft information by the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. Ireland has long been the weak link in child protection in Europe. Our law enforcers need laws which give them vetting capacity that is at least to the standard of our neighbors; without such vetting standards Ireland risks continuing to be a destination for sex offenders. The RCNI hope the government will act promptly on the Joint Committee’s recommendation that they can and should proceed with legislation which should presented and considered by the Houses of the Oireachtas by Christmas 2008.

‘After nine months, the Committee has begun to make decisions. We urge the committee to now decide on the children’s referendum which is still required to provide absolute and strict liability. Without these measures we will have failed in our responsibility to respond to children’s particular vulnerabilities.’

The Committee recommend that:
• vetting of all those working with children should be a statutory obligation
• that there should be statutory regulation of the manner in which information regarding convictions and soft information should be collated, exchanged and deployed by the relevant statutory agencies in the pursuit of child protection.

Notes:
• The RCNI is the National Rape Crisis sector body, which provides a strong voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change to end rape and all forms of sexual violence.

For information contact:
Cliona Saidlear: 087 2196447
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