A public campaign urging the immediate introduction of Garda clearance and vetting procedures for all adults who work with children in a professional or voluntary capacity was launched yesterday.
Children in schools, creches, summer camps, sports facilities were being placed at unnecessary risk of abuse because of the lack of appropriate screening, a press conference at the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) was told.
Representatives of the ISPCC and over 20 organisations working with children who attended called on the public to sign a petition lobbying the Government to introduce Garda clearance in the "How can we be sure they're safe?" campaign.
Mr Paul Gilligan, ISPCC chief executive, said this was one part of a series of measures to help screen out people who were a danger to children.
"There is no rational explanation as to why vetting cannot be expanded. It is a key child-protection measure. We're talking about one basic measure; Garda clearance for people who want to work with children."
Mr Gilligan said vetting procedures in the State were grossly inadequate. He urged the introduction of measures similar to those in Northern Ireland where not only was there police vetting for those with criminal convictions for child offences but for others including those suspended, dismissed, or transferred from jobs for harming children.
"There could be hundreds of people out there who should not be allowed to look after children. There should be a list which would include persons with no convictions. The list would be monitored by an independent body and the criteria would be very clear and strict."
Mr Colin Reid, NSPCC Northern Ireland, said in the North arrangements to check those who worked with children had recently been strengthened. "The one weakness in our system is the Border, and we now have a concerning North/South difference on this issue."
He said it was important that police would give information on people who had never been convicted, for instance those who had been investigated or perhaps dismissed from a job.
Mr Simon Walsh, of the Chernobyl Children's Project, said: "We're calling on the Government to be responsible."
Mr Terry Dignam, of Barretstown Gang Camp, said the success of the Special Olympics and the vetting of 30,000 volunteers had proven beyond doubt that the introduction of a statutory vetting system was a matter of willpower - not manpower - for the Government.
The ISPCC will place signature books, posters and postcards in shops and businesses for the public to sign. The petition will be presented to the Government in the autumn.
A Department of Justice spokeswoman yesterday referred to the Minister's answer to a Dáil question in June.
He said the central vetting unit processed clearance requests in respect of prospective employees entering full-time employment in the healthcare area who had unsupervised access to children. It was envisaged that a phased extension of the clearance arrangements to other groups would take place. A working group established to examine the issue was ongoing.