Some of the Catholic church's most senior archbishops and bishops with specific responsibility for handling allegations of clerical sexual abuse are due to arrive in Ireland in May for a "closed-door" conference on the issue.Ian Elliott, chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, confirmed the annual conference, known as the Anglophone Conference, is due to take place here from 31 May until 4 June.
It will bring together representatives of bishops' conferences in the English- speaking world, and their delegates, who work in the area of safeguarding children in the church.
The decision to hold the meeting in Ireland was taken two years ago, before the publication of the landmark Ryan and Murphy reports into clerical abuse here.
It is not known if the conference will specifically examine the issues raised in the reports, as the programme for the meeting is still being finalised.
By last week, 31 people had accepted an invitation to attend from the Irish Bishops' Conference.
This number is likely to rise as acceptances are still being received.
Maeve Lewis of the abuse survivors' group One in Four said it has not received an invitation to attend the conference, adding it was "vital" the voices of victims be heard by a gathering of so many senior churchmen from around the world.
"I do think it would be very helpful if there was even a session where victims or organisations like One in Four were able to present victims' perspectives," she said.
"This is particularly true at a time when there is an absolutely appalling relationship between victims and the church hierarchy."
The most recent Anglophone Conference was held in the Vatican last June, and included delegates from countries such as Australia, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand and the USA.
Elliott said a decision on where in Ireland the event will be held has not yet been made, adding that the "normal practice" for the event is to have closed sessions with media briefings and press conferences.
"We are looking at venues both close to the capital but also in the country," he said. "The purpose of the event is to share learning and the best practice developments that have taken place in the area of child safeguarding.
"I attended the last two conferences, which took place in Washington and in Rome respectively.
"They have been most helpful and have provided an opportunity for the sharing of child safeguarding practice developments.
"The theme is always best safeguarding practice in the church."
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