Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses for their opening statements today. I also thank Deputy Whitmore for asking my questions, which is fine. They were about the voice of the child and childminders. That is important.

Information is going to be crucial here, and how we communicate it. I will just go back to the Department. The witnesses spoke about proposals to enshrine interagency co-operation in law. These are intended to provide a framework for greater and more consistent co-operation from other State agencies such as Tusla, the HSE or the Garda, which is welcome, but we have challenges within the system as we speak. What is the Department's view on resourcing and staff? There are huge challenges. How does the Department feel we can overcome the challenges? That is my first question.

I will move on to Barnardos. If it is okay, I will keep going and then the witnesses can come back with the replies. I read the opening statement from Barnardos. While it welcomes the new guidelines and principles, it is important to note that Barnardos focused on heads 4, 7 and 9, and it has concerns in regard to them. We must make sure we listen to Barnardos. I very much welcome hearing about its concerns. It was stated:

In conclusion, Barnardos welcomes the provisions outlined in the Bill, if well-resourced and well implemented, it has the potential to positively impact on the lives of children and parents in need.

Perhaps Barnardos could also see the challenges there. To me, they are the biggest challenges. I believe that it will not work unless we have enough staff and enough people within the system.

My other question is for the Ombudsman for Children. In its submission it is stated:

As noted, the OCO broadly welcomes several proposals set out in the 2023 General Scheme. Overall, however, the General Scheme appears to us to be lacking in sufficient vision and ambition.

Could Dr. McAuley please clarify that for me?

I welcome all the statements. A point in the Tusla statement is that:

We very much welcome the requirement for Tusla to publish general information on our role and responsibilities regarding care proceedings, and to provide an information booklet to parents, and the amendment to section 25 to strengthen the voice of the child.

Perhaps the witnesses could give us more information on the booklet and what they envisage as being so important in that regard. This is about the voice of the child, children, and what we can do for services and to work with parents and everybody else. I welcome the focus, which is very important, but I firmly believe that we have a lot of challenges here going forward.