The health authorities in the North have said there is "a common and consistent approach" to the findings of the Ferns report on both sides of the Border.
In a statement to The Irish Times, the North's department of health, social services and public safety said "departmental officials from Northern Ireland are working very closely with their counterparts from the Republic of Ireland to address the issues of a cross-Border nature which have come to light with publication of the Ferns report".
It continued that "discussions are ongoing, and at this point nothing has been ruled in or out. We will continue to work with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to ensure that, where appropriate, there is a common and consistent approach to the findings of the report on both sides of the Border."
It said it was "important to emphasise that the safety of children remains our main priority".
"Should anyone have concerns as to the protection of children and/or vulnerable adults, these should be made known to the PSNI and/or their nearest Social Services Trust, which has powers to investigate and to act in the best interests of children to protect them."
Last Tuesday Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney met her Northern counterpart, Shaun Woodward, in Belfast, where it is understood there was discussion on the audit of child-protection measures in Catholic dioceses ordered by the Government.
A difficulty has arisen in that four of the dioceses - Armagh, Clogher, Derry, and Kilmore - are cross-Border, with two of the 26 Catholic dioceses on the island wholly in Northern Ireland. Those two are Down and Connor and Dromore.
Sixty priests have had allegations of child sex abuse made against them in the four cross-Border dioceses and the two dioceses wholly in the North, according to a survey by The Irish Times.
This number breaks down as follows: 26 priests in Derry diocese; 15 in Down and Connor; eight in Armagh; five each in Dromore and Kilmore; and last week a priest stood aside in Clogher diocese. There have been five allegations made against priests in Clogher, but the diocese will not say how many priests are involved.
