The Bill allowing immunity from civil liability to people reporting suspected cases of child abuse may be law shortly after Easter. Mr Alan Shatter, the author of the Bill and Fine Gael's spokesman on health and children, last night formally proposed that the legislation should now be debated by the new Select Committee for Health and Children.

If this goes ahead at the end of February or early March, the Children (Reporting of Alleged Abuse) Bill, 1998, could be signed into law in April.

It completed Second Stage in the Dail last night.

Saying he had "no difficulty with any constructive amendments" tabled by the Government, Mr Shatter added that it was not "cast in stone" but the "integrity" of the Bill must remain intact.

The legislation is designed to allow immunity from civil action to those who report suspected abuse on "reasonable grounds". The measures would apply to people "acting reasonably and in good faith" but would offer no protection to those acting out of bad faith or maliciously.

Rejecting suggestions by the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, that the Bill, as drafted, could include reporting suspected abuses to creches or even football clubs, Mr Shatter insisted it would provide only for reporting to "appropriate authorities".

Irrespective of the Government's action on mandatory reporting, a Bill such as his would have to be addressed.

Describing the Government's approach to mandatory reporting as "very confused", he said the "central problem" lay in the provision of sufficient resources to the Health Boards.

"As it stands, the existing personnel are under enormous pressure. If they are truly serious about protecting children, the resources must be provided", Mr Shatter said.