Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

By way of answering this question, and some other members may have a similar question, I would remind the committee that I had the opportunity to choose the special rapporteur in my term, and I made the decision to reappoint Dr. Shannon. It had a significant amount to do with his expertise, his international reputation, his commitment and his passion, but also the sterling way in which he conducts his research. As he has told the committee, as well as stating publicly, he had the audit on section 12 peer reviewed by other international experts in terms of doing research and he was assured that, both methodologically as well as in substance, it was a top class piece of work. That is my view also. That is my first point.

My second point is that, as I believe the committee is aware, I have requested Tusla to put out a request for tender for an independent piece of research to be done in regard to reviewing section 13, which the Deputy stated in her opening remarks is the second piece of the work. Section 12 was the first part. Section 13 is the second part. In the process of our conversations with Tusla in making that request to commission an independent piece of research in that regard, we have been informed by and have had discussions with Dr. Shannon on the ways in which that should be conducted. All of that has been part of the past. He has already fed into that, and I am deeply grateful for that. It is appropriate to request Tusla to request an independent piece of research to be done. In terms of the audit aspect, at the heart of section 13 is focusing on the decision making of social workers and their practice in the context of what happens after the gardaí move in and help the child. Tusla then has to step in and begin to assess where they are placed etc. It is important to point that out. Regarding the piece of work, I believe we need some expertise from a social work practice perspective that informs it.

Third, it is open to anyone to respond to that request and put forward a tender to do the piece of work for the audit of section 12.