that is the fundamental question. >> reporter: marie collins thinks it's because of the insular culture of catholic leadership. >> it's an all male group of people who have exactly the same training, exactly the same beliefs, and they reinforce each other. they live in this bubble. i think they have completely lost touch with the ordinary man in the street. >> reporter: the irish catholic church says it's now trying to ensure that few if any children are ever abused by clergy again. >> very simply, we have one single aim. that is to safeguard children in the catholic church in ireland. >> reporter: an expert on child welfare issues and a presbyterian has been selected by ireland's catholic church to develop child abuse safeguards and reporting standards. >> with this new system in place if you go to the back of any church in ireland, you'll find contact details for that parish. the telephone number for the national office. >> reporter: do you actively investigate, your office? or do you turn it over to civil authorities? >> in the first instance we communicate with the state-run child p