Sir, - The indications that the Government is moving towards the introduction of mandatory reporting of child abuse are to be welcomed. But there is still a large degree of equivocation and long-fingering. The horrifying details of recent court cases demand the need for urgent and single-minded action.
None of the arguments used against mandatory reporting, such as the lack of a clear definition of abuse, the danger of a flood of reports, the possibility that some victims will be deterred from reporting, would justify a policy of treating with secrecy instances of the abuse, or suspected abuse, of children.
Of course, mandatory reporting should not be used as a blunt, insensitive device. A change in the law requiring the reporting of known or suspected abuse should be accompanied by a set of sophisticated measures which would provide guidelines and procedures for reporting, intervention, assessment, etc. in a sensitive way. Obviously, considerable additional resources will be required. But set against the huge annual expenditure on our present health services, the further cost of improving the protection of our children will be a very small price to pay. - Yours, etc., Joseph Robins, Chairman,
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre,
Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.