Mr. Vivian Geiran:

I will respond to some of the questions that relate to the Irish Association of Social Workers. Deputy Murnane O'Connor made the point that the system as a whole is failing. That is a very important point. All the words in her statement - that the system as a whole is failing - are important. That is because of the siloed nature of our responses, which we have spoken about. Deputy Murnane O'Connor also referred to the cultural issues, as did Deputy Higgins. The really important question of how we can change the culture was raised.

Professor Kelly referred to the old saying that culture eats strategy for breakfast. I was going to put it slightly differently. It probably eats legislation with its morning coffee. It is a very difficult thing to change but we have to grapple with that.

As regards Senator Seery Kearney's question on how we inject change, urgency in starting and delivering that change is really important. Much, but not all, of the power is in this room, both actually and figuratively, in the sense of the Legislature progressing the much-needed legislation, for example. There is also a responsibility on the Executive side to follow up with urgency.

A couple of members asked what the legislation will change. As I stated, I come from a background in the criminal justice system, in which for many years a significant number of people, including me, recognised the need for much better inter-agency co-operation and working. For many years I operated under the unfortunate illusion that because people recognised that, they would work really hard to change it. Unfortunately, the reality is that many of these problems are not really addressed unless there is legislation and a statutory basis and mandate for that type of co-operation. I refer again to the example that has been cited many times of the situation in respect of child welfare and protection. The changes did not happen because people knew we needed to work better and in a more co-ordinated way or because of all the scandals that occurred; they only happened when appropriate legislation was put in place. I am not saying that legislation can answer or deal with everything - it cannot - but I do think it is a fundamental foundation. As was evidenced in the context of children, we need appropriate structures and responsibility, accountability and transparency to follow on from the legislation.

Professor Phelan or Ms O'Connor may wish to come in on some of the points raised.