State to appoint legal experts to enhance child protection

The Government is today expected to approve the appointment of two independent legal experts whose job will be to report annually…

The Government is today expected to approve the appointment of two independent legal experts whose job will be to report annually on how new laws and court proceedings may impact on child protection. Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent, reports

It is the latest move by the Government aimed at taking control of the crisis on statutory rape law that engulfed the Coalition earlier this month.

The Cabinet is today due to discuss the role of the two independent legal experts, to be known as special rapporteurs on child protection, who would be accountable to the Oireachtas rather than any individual Government minister.

The rapporteurs are due to be appointed for three years on a part-time basis. The Attorney General has been in discussion with a number of high-profile legal experts in recent days who specialise in child and criminal law.

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The two experts will be asked to review legal developments for the protection of children and assess the likely impact of relevant litigation in national and international courts on child protection.

Their work will be published on an annual basis and submitted to the Dáil and Seanad for debate.

The special rapporteurs will be entitled to consult with Government departments and the Ombudsman for Children about initiatives in relation to child-protection legislation and developing protocols to enhance that protection.

A formal announcement is expected to be made at a press conference in Government Buildings following today's Cabinet meeting.

The move is part of a package of measures outlined earlier this month by the Taoiseach, including an inquiry into the "communications failure" in the Attorney General's office which resulted in the Government being taken by surprise by the striking down of the law on statutory rape.

The result of this investigation, headed by senior Department of Finance official Eddie Sullivan, is expected shortly.

Other measures announced included requirements on the Attorney General to brief the Government regularly on ongoing constitutional challenges and to liaise more regularly with the DPP.

The Government hopes these measures will help dampen anger over its response to the crisis.

However, Opposition parties are likely to continue their demand for an independent inquiry.

Senior Fine Gael and Labour sources have also said they are not yet committing themselves to participating in a proposed all-party committee to discuss legislation in this area. They say they want to be assured that its remit and timescale would allow it to be effective.

The Taoiseach said earlier this month he hoped the committee would be established quickly.

However, given the committee's other work commitments, it now seems likely it may only begin examining these issues from next autumn.