Good morning.
On behalf of the Irish Episcopal Conference, represented by Bishop Colm O’Reilly, 
Bishop John McAreavey and myself, the Conference of Religious of Ireland, 
represented by Sr. Evelyn Greene and Fr Michael Drennan, and the Irish 
Missionary Union, represented by Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll and Fr Tommy Murphy, 
and on behalf of the Child Protection Office of the Bishops’ Conference, 
represented by the National Director of training Mrs Kay Hyden, I would 
like to welcome you to the launch of Our Children, Our Church, the new 
child protection policy for the Catholic Church in Ireland. 

In the New Year we will have a separate launch of the Northern Ireland 
edition of the document. This edition will take account of the latest 
legislative and policy developments in Northern Ireland, notably in regard 
to the new vetting procedures known as POCVA, as well other legislative 
and policy differences which exist between the two jurisdictions. 
Representatives of the Church have been in discussion with the statutory 
authorities in Northern Ireland to ensure that every diocese and religious 
congregation there is fully compliant with NI legislation and with the 
POCVA vetting and clearance system. I would like to take this opportunity 
to emphasize the support of the Bishops and other sponsoring bodies for 
the introduction of a similar system of vetting and clearance in the 
Republic of Ireland as a matter of urgency. The absence of such a system 
here is a vulnerability which can be exploited by determined abusers of 
children in either jurisdiction and as such, should be a matter of the 
utmost concern to all of us who are committed to the care and protection 
of children on the island.

The launch of Our Children, Our Church marks an important moment 
in the Church’s own commitment to the care and protection of children 
and to the implementation of the principles of best practice as set out 
in the state guidelines Children First and Co-operating to Safeguard 
Children. Indeed, I am particularly pleased to be able to welcome Ms. 
Maureen Lynott, who chaired the group that compiled the guidelines 
Children First. Maureen chaired the Working Group on Child Protection 
established by the sponsoring bodies in June 2003 to update the Church’s 
policy, Child Sexual Abuse: Framework for a Church Response, in the light
of developments in best practice. I would like to take this opportunity 
to pay tribute to Maureen and to the Working Group for the thorough and 
professional way in which they undertook this task and for the invaluable 
insights and experience which they have brought to bear on the development 
of this comprehensive policy.  

In publicly committing the Catholic Church in Ireland today to the 
implementation of Our Children, Our Church, we have but one purpose 
in mind – to ensure that where the Church is, children will be safe. We want 
to ensure that everything humanly possible, everything that is regarded as 
best practice is in place and working effectively in the Catholic Church in 
Ireland, from a national level to parish level. We want to ensure that 
children, parents, clergy and the public at large can have the utmost 
confidence in the commitment of the Church to the protection of children 
and that the painful mistakes of the past will never happen again.

We want children to feel that they have been treated at all times with the 
dignity, respect and care they deserve by the community of the Church. 
Indeed, a fundamental principle of this policy is that, in all decisions 
made and actions taken in response to allegations and suspicions of child 
abuse, the welfare of the child is paramount. While the rights of all parties 
in such a situation shall be respected, the welfare of the child should always
be the first and paramount consideration. This principle is wholly consistent 
with the Gospel view that the child is at the heart of the kingdom of God.

A key factor in determining the effective implementation of this policy will 
be the creation by the sponsoring bodies of a National Board for Child 
Protection. As suggested by the Working Group, this Board will be separate 
from any other secretariat or office of the sponsoring bodies and will be 
made up of parents and professionals from child care, psychology, theology, 
law, academia, education and business. It will have overall responsibility 
for ensuring that the Church’s policies and procedures as outlined in Our 
Children, Our Church are implemented, monitored and publicised.

Clearly, a critical role will be played by the Chair of the National Board. 
For that reason I am pleased to be able to announce today that former Attorney 
General and Supreme Court Judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Anthony Hederman 
has agreed to be the first chair of the National Board. It is hoped to 
announce the other members of the Board early in the New Year. The Sponsoring 
Bodies are indebted Mr Justice Hederman for his willingness to undertake 
this important role.

As the National Board begins the process of implementing Our Children, 
Our Church the Irish Episcopal Conference will continue the process of 
seeking formal approval or recognitio for the canonical aspects of the 
document from the Holy See. The canonical processes form quite a small 
proportion of the overall document, notably Chapter Ten and the request 
for recognitio does not impede the implementation of those measures which 
ensure best practice in child protection contained in the document. The 
Holy See have been helpful and constructive in relation to the question 
of recognitio.

And now I would like to hand you over to Sr. Evelyn Greene representing 
CORI, who will take you through some of the key themes of the document.

ends
19 December 2005