McGimpsey Responds To Proposals From Roman Catholic Bishops

Michael McGimspey has been asked by the Executive to be the lead Minister in relation to all of the issues arising out of the Ryan Report.

The Irish Bishops's Conference yesterday announced that they wish 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."

Responding to this announcement, Mc Gimpsey said: "It was agreed that I would take the lead within the Executive to explore how we will deal with this issue of clerical and institutional abuse within Northern Ireland.

"There is no doubt that the issues involved need to be addressed in an open and transparent way and that these issues cut across the responsibilities of a number of Executive Departments and the Northern Ireland Office.

"This is why I have previously written to my Executive colleagues and the Northern Ireland Office in response to the Ryan commission report seeking their views. I am awaiting responses from a number of key Departments.

"My officials are currently preparing a paper for the Executive setting out options for dealing with the issue of historical abuse within Northern Ireland.

"It has been agreed by the Assembly that an assessment of abuse needs to take place within Northern Ireland.

"However, in the interests of safeguarding children now and in the future and in the interests of seeing that justice is done, I would oppose any arrangement which protects the anonymity of child abusers and fails to result in criminal prosecutions of such individuals.

"I believe, following the recent Assembly debate, that this view point is now shared across all parties within the Assembly."

The Minister continued: "The final decision on what approach is adopted to addressing historical abuse in Northern Ireland will rest with the Executive as a whole."

He added: "As a government, we have a responsibility to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse. I hope that we can achieve a consensus within the Executive on an approach which will meet the needs of victims whilst at the same time ensuring children are protected now and in the future from persons who may pose a risk to them."