The following is the joint statement of Ms Marie Collins, Mr Ken Reilly, Cardinal Desmond Connell and Bishop Eamonn Walsh following their meeting yesterday:
Our common and overriding purpose is the protection of all children from sexual abuse. We will work together to develop, improve and expand existing practices.
The Cardinal reiterated his conviction that no priest who had sexually abused a child should be trusted again in any parish or ministry involving children.
The Cardinal has invited Ken and Marie to meet David Kennedy, the chairman of the independent advisory panel, who is centrally involved in the establishment of the Child Protection Service in the Dublin Diocese.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide a means by which the views of Ken and Marie can be included in the shaping of this new service.
The issues that Ken and Marie wish to cover include the following:
1. Ongoing care of all who have been hurt by the issue of clerical child sexual abuse;
2. Development of existing and future training of all involved in the work of the church in this area;
3. Guidelines - Since the guidelines were issued in 1996 all involved have learned much through their implementation. This experience will be included in the current national review of these guidelines;
4. Co-operation with civil authorities - The diocese has today issued the following statement: "The Archdiocese of Dublin is co-operating fully with the gardaí in their investigation. Cardinal Connell has agreed to give the gardaí access to the diocesan files concerning complaints of child sexual abuse against diocesan priests. It is understood that the gardaí will commence reading the files in early January.";
5. Communications - There is a recognised need to provide more information based on fact and truth while recognising the sensitivities of the issues involved
All present considered the meeting to be positive and, sensitive to the complexities of the issues raised and discussed, a sign of hope for the future.