The terms of reference of the committee were
. to consider and advise on an appropriate response by the Catholic Church in Ireland where there is an accusation, suspicion or knowledge of a priest or religious having sexually abused a child.
. to identify guidelines for church policy in this area and suggest a set of procedures to be followed in these circumstances.
The membership of the committee was
Dr Laurence Forristal, Bishop of Ossory (chairman).
Sister Eilis Bergin PBVM, manager, St Bernard Group Homes, Fethard, Co Tipperary. Rev Frank Buckley, from Cork. Ms Margaret Burns, administrator, Council for Social Welfare. Father Damian Byrne OP, secretary general, Conference of Religious of Ireland. Mr Jim Cantwell, director, Catholic Press and Information Office. Sister Geraldine Fitzgerald, Conference of Religious of Ireland. Mr Edward Gleeson, solicitor, Arthur O'Hagan, Dublin. Mr Ted Jones, solicitor, Belfast. Father Loman Mac Aodha OFM, National Conference of Priests of Ireland. Dr Imelda Ryan, director, St Louise's Child Sexual Abuse Assessment and Treatment Service, Dublin. Monsignor Alex Stenson, chancellor, Dublin diocese, and professor of canon law, Clonliffe College, Dublin. Dr Patrick Walsh, Director of Psychological Services, St John of God Order.
In preparing the report the committee held a series of four "listening days" to hear the views of organisations in the statutory and voluntary sector involved in child protection and welfare. It also heard the views of victims of sexual abuse by priests and religious.
The committee met the bishops conference three times to discuss the development of the committee's thinking and also heard the views of religious superiors through a number of meetings organised by the Conference of Religious of Ireland.