A cross-Border seminar on child protection is being held in Dundalk today. The round-table event has been organised by the North's Department of Health, the Office of the Minister for Health and Children and children's charities.
Discussion is expected to focus on safeguarding children; assessing and managing sex offenders; delivering cross-Border services and North/South systems and structure.
The North's Health Minister, Paul Goggins, said he was fully committed to allIreland co-operation on child protection.
He said: "The safety of children is paramount. Child protection is everybody's business. We all have a responsibility to work together to ensure that children are safe. That is why I am fully committed to the promotion of joint working in this area. We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland and with both the voluntary and community sectors, to strengthen safeguards in any way we can.
"We are already working on a number of cross-Border initiatives, including a stronger focus on vetting and barring arrangements within child protection." Lynda Wilson, director of charity Barnardo's Northern Ireland, said she hoped the seminar would lead to formal information sharing and complementary child protection arrangements North and South.
Around 90 delegates are expected to attend the event, which will be chaired by RTÉ's Áine Lawlor.