Ms Eva Boyle:

We look at a number of basic things. The concept of restrictive practice is well known and restrictive practices are where a child's movement is impeded. Naturally the young people in Oberstown are there by order of the courts or are there on remand, so their movement has been restricted anyway. It could be medication that is prescribed, if it is a medical restrictive practice or it could be the environment that is restricted.

That is the case in single separation where the door is locked. Best international practice shows that restrictive practices should apply for the shortest possible time, should be continuously reviewed and every effort should be made to avoid them. When considering the issue of single separation and restrictive practices we must also bear in mind the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the need to provide for very basic human rights, for example, the rights to fresh air and reading material.