An Oireachtas inquiry into child abuse in swimming is expected to start shortly. The inquiry is separate from the investigation ordered by the Government, to be headed by Dr Roderick Murphy.
The parallel investigation by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation will ask the Irish Amateur Swimming Association to give evidence, according to the committee chairman, Mr Michael Ferris.
He will ask today's meeting of the committee to "directly tackle the issue of sex abuse in sporting organisations" and to publish a report to the Oireachtas with re commendations based on its findings.
Mr Ferris said the Compellability of Witnesses Act would be in force to empower the committee to seek witnesses and documentation. "This [child abuse] is a problem in more than one sport." Many parents had been in contact with him over the past week anxious to ensure that sporting organisations had safeguards in place to prevent paedophiles using them to gain access to children, he said.
Each sports organisation which caters for children will be asked to outline the safety procedures it has in place to prevent sexual abuse of children.