LSP-I Advisory Committee

Safeguarding Committee & Advisory Panel for Ireland

The “Advisory Committee” prescribed by the global (PSP Art. 9) and regional (RSP Art. 12-13) safeguarding policies of the Prelature is to comprise at least five persons, appointed by the Regional Vicar for a period of five years, which may be renewed.

While its functions relate primarily to advising the Regional Vicar on the management and preliminary investigation of safeguarding cases, it also has the responsibility to review and propose updates to safeguarding policies. Its role, therefore corresponds in substance to that of the Advisory Panel prescribed by the NBSCCCI Guidance but also includes some of the policy functions prescribed for the separate Safeguarding Committee in the same guidance. 

Given the ad casum nature of the Advisory Panel (and the special skills and experience which would be most relevant to its members), on the one hand, and the permanent oversight function of the Safeguarding Committee (and the distinct skills and experience which would be more relevant to its members), on the other, the functions of the Advisory Committee will be fulfilled by two separate bodies in the Local Safeguarding Policy for Ireland (LSP-I): 

Membership & Meetings

The membership of the Advisory Panel may overlap with that of the Safeguarding Committee. In each body, the majority will be lay faithful, men and women. They must be people of exemplary conduct and sound judgment. The chairperson will be a priest of the Prelature with several years of pastoral experience and sound judgment. As far as possible, among the members of the Advisory Panel in particular there should be professionals of the following disciplines: canon law (cf. RSP Art. 50 and Can. 1718 §3 CIC), criminal or civil law, psychology, moral theology, or ethics. At least one member in each body should have experience in dealing with the abuse or mistreatment of minors.

The Safeguarding Committee (and the Advisory Panel when convoked)  shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill their functions in accordance with a programme established by the chairperson, and in any case whenever the Vicar convenes them. There is no objection to the regional Vicar asking a member of his Regional Councils to attend the meetings of the Safeguarding Committee or the Advisory Panel.

Safeguarding Committee 

The Safeguarding Committee shall:

Advisory Panel 

The Advisory Panel, once convoked by the Regional Vicar in a case of alleged child abuse, shall:

always taking into account the opinion and needs of the persons concerned.