Ms Julie Ahern:

At present, it is the social worker who has responsibility to make a decision on whether to lodge an application. Social care workers, who care for them where they live daily, ask me what is happening and what are the rights of the young person. I will leave Ms Ward answer the question on who should be the person in place. What is critical is that child-friendly information is provided to children and young people. This should be in a language they can understand. It would be written and oral and would be presented in a way that they would know their rights and entitlements even beyond making an application for protection, including their rights in everyday life.