RCs: Why is reporting ual abuse by priests in Ireland against canon law?

There was a piece on CBC news today that reporting priests had formerly not been done by bishoprics because it was a question of canon law. Now it seems the authorities in Ireland are going to make not reporting a crime in Ireland. I'm thinking that the higher ups must have used the cover of the confessional. If the law specifically denies that practise in the case of ual abuse, do you honestly think thatthe practise wil change- after all it has been the practise since the inquisition that priests not devulge what is heard in confession. What do you think?