Dr. Niall Muldoon:

On the communication issue, it was great to hear Mr. O'Regan agrees the communication is not right across the country. It is one of the most crucial elements. It is the only contact we have with the parents’ involvement which, in turn, is the only contact we have with the child.

The issuing of letters, the first two pages of which are full of corporate-speak and do not address the issues for the child or parent, is inappropriate and dangerous. To hear that a Deputy is being told consistently that a CHO does not accept a complaint is detrimental to the child's rights because the parent cannot come to my office as an arbitrator of last resort if the complaint has not been through the local procedures. If local procedures are not working, issues cannot go forward to an independent arbitrator. That is a really crucial setback on children and it puts too much pressure on the parent to find the fix or that. If a parent has to argue a case with a Deputy who then has to raise it with us at an Oireachtas committee to get a contact then the system needs to be stepped up. It is good to hear that the Deputy is agreeable to that.

I am delighted to hear that the cross-Government piece around need, as outlined in our report, has been accepted. It is crucial that the HSE, the Department of Health and, in the future, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, push that cross-Government piece. It is not all on the committee; I understand that. It is crucial that we, legislators and the Government help to make that a cross-Government approach as quickly as possible.