The Church of Ireland has appointed its first ever child protection officer to ensure that its parishes meet current child protection legislation and reassure parents of the Church's commitment to the welfare of their children.

Margaret Yarr has been appointed by the Representative Church Body as Child Protection Officer for the Church of Ireland with particular responsibility for Northern Ireland.

Rev I W Ellis, Secretary of the Board of Education, welcomed Ms Yarr to her new role: "The creation of this post has come at a time of constant development of child protection legislation and guidance in the continual raising of standards of child protection across the voluntary sector.

Ms Yarr is a professionally qualified social worker with wide experience in the area of child protection and family support. She is also a qualified child protection trainer, and her initial focus will be to develop training with parish panels.

As Child Protection Officer her role will be to advise and support parishes, dioceses and central church bodies, on the implementation and development of the Church of Ireland's Safeguarding Trust child protection policy.

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Alan Harper, welcomed Ms Yarr to her new role: "I welcome this further important stage in the development of the Church of Ireland's commitment to care for all children sharing in its ministry."

Archbishop Harper said a similar post would be set up for the Republic in the near future.