Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a problem with that. We have heard that residents in visiting centres are afraid to engage with the system. As a lot of the centres have cameras, management can see them. They are afraid that, after the Ombudsman's staff leave, they may be treated disrespectfully and get into trouble if they talk to them. They are afraid to go into the rooms where interviews happen, lest they be targeted as troublemakers. We have to address this issue. Will the delegates talk about the steps taken to ensure secrecy and confidentiality? Would it be a good idea to have spot checks? I would love to do them. Mr. Tyndall has said the residents are afraid to speak to figures in authority such as the Ombudsman's staff because they believe they are part of the system. Could the Ombudsman not go to the local community centre or somewhere the residents would feel safe and could open up about the realities of their lives? Some of the stuff we saw was pretty scary.