The childcare agency Barnardos has expressed concern at the delay in introducing mandatory reporting of child abuse. Its chief executive, Mr Owen Keenan, yesterday said the Government had made a commitment which should now be delivered.
"Barnardos believes that the introduction of mandatory reporting will add significantly to our capacity to protect children. It will make a significant statement of commitment that there cannot be an `acceptable level of unreported child abuse' in Ireland.
"With the development of other aspects of our legislation and services, its introduction will be an important step towards Ireland being a better place to be a child," Mr Keenan said.
In an introduction to the organisation's policy document, The Case for Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect, Mr Keenan said opposing views were held with integrity, but Barnardos would challenge their validity.
"Yes, we know that mandatory reporting is not without its complexities, but fundamentally it makes a statement that the physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect of children is not acceptable in Ireland, nor is the failure to report it. More than anything, it puts children first."
The document said all those whose professional responsibilities brought them into contact with children should be designated as mandatory reporters.
"This would include, therefore, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, speech therapists, childcare workers, teachers, community welfare officers, probation and welfare officers, school-attendance officers, counsellors and therapists.
"The obligation to report would extend to professional workers in the private and voluntary sector such as playgroup leaders and youth workers."
Legislation and accompanying regulations should confer a corporate responsibility, according to the document, and voluntary workers "have an equally important role to play in reporting cases of suspected abuse".
