The Working Group on Child Protection Policy held its first meeting on June 5th 2003.
Chaired by Maureen Lynott, members included Marie Collins; Mick Waters of SOCA (UK); Sr Evelyn Greene, Sr Martina Barrett, and Fr David Smith, all of Cori's Child Protection Task Force; Fr Paul Murphy of Cori's Child Protection Office; Paul Bailey and Kay Hayden of the Irish Bishops' Conference Child Protection Office; Gemma Rowley of the Bishops' Committee on Child Protection; theologian Fr Hugh Connolly; canon lawyer Fr Micheál Mullaney; Mgr John Crowley, representative of the National Conference of Priests of Ireland; Dr Kevin McCoy, retired Chief Social Service Inspector Northern Ireland; Patrick O'Toole, retired assistant garda commissioner; clinical psychologist Marguerite O'Neill; administrator, Council for Social Welfare, Margaret Burns; health board worker Suzanne Phelan; special adviser Ger Crowley and document drafter Liz Challenor.
Representing the Irish Episcopal Conference on the church steering committee were Bishop Colm O'Reilly, Bishop John McAreavey, and Dublin auxiliary Bishop Ray Field. Bishop Donal Murray took part in the crucial December 20th meeting last year.
Representing the Conference of Religious of Ireland (Cori) on the church steering committee were Cori secretary general Fr Micheál Drennan, and Sr Helena O'Donoghue. Fr Con Casey and Fr Thomas Murphy represented the Irish Missionary Union on the steering committee.