Mr. Gordon Jeyes:

Senator van Turnhout made the point that the worst failure is not knowing. This is what is at issue. We have argued that part of the difficulty was not having a centralised intake team and a service. I have always argued against a waiting list but I have never tried to tell staff there are no pressures. I need to report those pressures objectively and accurately to the joint committee, to the Department and the Minister. Shroud-waving is counter-productive. The Garda Síochána was alerted. There is a number of adult retrospective referrals. We have gone with those referrals, which number about 80, to the first stage, which is not a full investigation but making sure that children are safe. Many of these cases are of historic events and the people are elderly. This is still part of our work but at times social workers will determine that this is not the top priority.