Decision to give files to Barnardo's defended

The Minister with responsibility for children has defended a decision to give copies of the personal files of 43,000 former industrial schools residents and other institutions to the children's charity, Barnardo's.

Mr Brian Lenihan rejected accusations by the Labour party TD, Ms Joan Burton, that the move was a "unilateral" decision and a "scandal". He said it was done to ensure a more "comprehensive, compassionate and supportive service" could be provided to former residents.

Ms Burton, however, asked why it was done "without any public debate or discussion on the pros and cons of such an arrangement".

She also expressed concern that the Minister for Health was considering giving the adoption records of another 40,000 people to Barnardo's without reference to groups representing them, such as the Adopted People's Association.

Describing Barnardo's as a highly reputable non-governmental organisation, Deputy Burton said, "my concern is not with it but with this extraordinary decision of the Minister."

Many residents had been "beaten, starved, deprived of any family life and a horrific number suffered depraved sexual abuse", Deputy Burton said.

She said that though the Government had made much of the State's apology to former residents and their concern to promote redress, healing and closure for those residents, the actual priority was "protecting the concerns of the religious orders that ran and controlled these institutions".

Many children in those institutions suffered abuse because of powerlessness and poverty, but now the State "proposes to again treat former residents as objects without power, where decisions on their personal records can be made by the Department of Education without reference to them, the Dáil or to the wider public," she said.

Mr Lenihan, who is Minister of State across three government departments - Health, Education and Justice - said the Freedom of Information Act did not provide a mechanism for ensuring that sensitive issues were addressed, including the tracing of lost family members. The Department of Education agreed to support Barnardo's provision of an information and mediation service for those wishing to access their records.

"The service being offered by Barnardo's is designed specifically with the best interests of former residents in mind." There were no "current plans" to give the agency original records.

"Access to the records is strictly controlled and Barnardo's has given a guarantee that only the records of those who have asked Barnardo's to act on their behalf, will be accessed," the Minister said.

The Department had consulted widely with groups representing former residents and "the response was generally positive".

He pointed out it "will be a matter for each individual to decide whether to access their records through the Department under the FOI legislation or through Barnardo's".

Ms Burton believed a full State records service was the most appropriate way to address this, but Mr Lenihan said that would delay assistance, would require legislation and would probably incur additional expenditure.