Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the three organisations and Professor Kelly for their thought-provoking and detailed submissions and opening statements. They have painted a grim picture of where we are in terms of supporting and protecting vulnerable people.

This committee is considering what recommendations we can make to empower people to protect themselves from exploitation and abuse. We must also consider how to target the perpetrators of abuse. In their replies, perhaps the witnesses could address the question of how perpetrators are dealt with through the judicial system and the timeframes involved.

I believe it was Professor Phelan who made the point that we also had to promote autonomy, rights and well-being. I could not agree more. We tend to think of safeguarding as protecting people from negative behaviour, but we must include the person in all of this. It is not something that I had thought about as much until I listened to the witnesses. I thank them for that.

Ms Grogan referred to HIQA's new annual overview report and how residents living in congregated settings experienced a poorer quality of life compared with those in community settings. That seems to have been the theme throughout this meeting. I would be interested in hearing a little more about how we as a society can transition more to community settings and about the key changes required. What key measures must be included in the new national safeguarding policy?

Professor Phelan spoke about advocacy and nothing about us without us. Consultation is important. While listening to her, it struck me that people in these settings may sometimes not have been aware they were being abused, even through the small types of abuse Ms O'Connor mentioned. We need to do more to educate people – those in positions of control and those who have vulnerabilities and are being protected – about what abuse is. This is a significant cultural challenge.

The lack of sexual education for women with intellectual disabilities was mentioned. The previous Oireachtas education committee worked on making recommendations on a new relationships and sexuality education, RSE, programme. We made a strong recommendation to the then Minister for Education and Skills on how there was a complete lack of sexual and relationship education for people with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities. This has to do with vulnerable people being exploited without necessarily realising what boundaries should be in place.

Professor Phelan might comment on the need for greater regulation of the social welfare payment agency system.

It was mentioned we could examine the role of the public and society in safeguarding. This relates to the cultural issue.

Professor Kelly spoke about the importance of safeguarding in mental health services and the vulnerabilities of people with mental health issues. He was clear on the need for people to live in communities that valued them. I could not agree more.

How we evolve to that situation is crucial to the work we are doing. Could our guests elaborate on what they were talking about with regard to the systemic co-working that is needed in mental health between mental health services, primary care and social care, which is crucial? Can they provide us with their own insight into the model of services needed to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities who also experience poor mental health can be supported in the community in line with the UNCRPD? The figures that have been mentioned speak for themselves.

Ms Geiran and Ms O’Connor spoke about promoting autonomy and the rights and well-being of people, which is of great importance. They said that social workers face very real challenges. On influencing the governance and management of practice, if they had influence, what would be the key areas where they would propose to take action? They have recommended some interim measures. Would they see those measures continuing on an ongoing basis in respect of what needs to be put in place?

Finally, can our guests comment on education and training needs for effective safeguarding around those who are working within congregated settings and for preventative measures right across society as well?