Mr. Liam Herrick:

There are many different dimensions to it, but I will pick up on the point about access to justice, a right to independent advocacy and ensuring that complaints are always recorded and responded to. It is a question for professional bodies to ensure that when staff in a particular category are the subject of a complaint, they are properly disciplined as part of the disciplinary process. Dr. Elliott mentioned earlier that the phenomenon of non-prosecution of offences, particularly against people with intellectual disabilities, raises questions about all stages of the criminal justice system. When An Garda Síochána and the DPP do not proceed with prosecutions for various legal reasons, people are denied justice. The lack of legislation on incitement to hatred, which Dr. Elliott already mentioned, is relevant, as is the prosecution of hate crimes against people with disabilities. There are many different dimensions to this. The Deputy is absolutely right when he says that a comprehensive system is needed.