Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are a couple of issues that have come up at the meetings. I will address the representatives of the office of the Ombudsman first, on the various of reports, commentary and discussions that it has had over the years. I am trying to put it in the most diplomatic language. What sense do they from the relevant Departments and sections that are dealing with children, people with disabilities and those with mental health issues? The issues as not being dealt with as quickly and are not being as prioritised as we would like to see. The report of the Ombudsman is pretty stark in dealing with and understanding, very much from a personal level as well, the frustrations of parents and people with disabilities. They feel exhausted by the constant challenge that they have. They constantly look to the reports of the Ombudsman and others and commentary at a judicial level, by judges in some instances, for solace and to perhaps challenge the system. The office came into being in 2004 under the 2002 Act. In a measurement of how the system has responded to its challenges, how do the witnesses see the engagement that is in place between the State services? In some instances, where the State services have failed children, a defensive system is almost built up by some of the State services to protect the institution rather than the child. Perhaps the witnesses might comment on that. We hear a lot about CAMHS and young people not being able to access meaningful therapies, meaningful treatment and meaningful engagement from the services. Mention was made previously of ADHD and autism and it was probably mentioned in our absence. How do we prescribe a system that will be fit for purpose in terms of the many challenges that young people face within society and who are being diagnosed?

A lot of institutions fear the dreaded HIQA inspections. There have to be inspections, checks and balances and proper accountability. No matter how well-meaning the system or the individual is, unless it is measured and checked, it simply will not work. That applies across society. Whatever the role, the checks and balances have to be there. In HIQA's engagement with registered bodies, when they arrive do the staff find a barrier to getting the information that they require to make sure that they can produce a full and adequate report addressing children, young people and how the services are being provided for them? Perhaps the witnesses might comment on that.

We will start with the staff from the office of the Ombudsman first, then representatives of the Mental Health Commission and then HIQA.