MINISTER FOR Children Barry Andrews has rejected criticism of the Government’s new child death review group, saying it will protect children in care and their privacy.
In response to criticism by Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan, Mr Andrews said last night the Government’s mechanism provided a “transparent and accountable death review mechanism”. “The mechanism for the purpose of reviewing all deaths of children in care precisely follows the Health, Information and Quality Authority guidance for the Health Service Executive for the review of serious incidents including deaths of children in care,” he said.
Mr Andrews set up an independent review group in March to investigate the deaths of at least 188 children who were either in care or known to social services between 2000 and 2010.
This followed public concern over the HSE’s inability to provide accurate figures on children in State care who had died, and the publication of a leaked report into the death of 18-year-old Dubliner Tracey Fay.
The HSE has also set up a panel to review child deaths and serious incidents in the future.
Ms Logan has criticised its lack of statutory powers and the independence of both review groups.
In advice submitted to Government and published yesterday, Ms Logan called for the creation of “a new institutionally independent child death review mechanism”.
She has raised concerns about the use of the in camera rule to frustrate and delay investigations into the deaths of children in care.