Ms Patricia Rickard-Clarke:

I thank the Senator. There is no overarching framework at the moment. I heard comments in the debates about building on existing structures. The existing structures are very limited. They are very siloed and they work within health or social care or whatever but not across the board. This morning, we in Safeguarding Ireland are trying to emphasise huge community issues in terms of people at risk.

The systems in place now need to be upgraded and standardised, have a safeguarding lens applied to them and so forth. We would not be in favour of anything less than what we are looking for, that is, an independent adult safeguarding authority. I again emphasise that this is a requirement under the UNCRPD.

On the issue of coercive control, there is nothing to stop an amendment. We also tabled a detailed amendment two and a half years ago when the Criminal Law Act and the offences against the person Act were being updated. The Law Reform Commission has set out a very acceptable issue about behaviour and so forth. That could be done tomorrow if there is a will to do it. Again, the overarching adult safeguarding framework is not needed to do that. I emphasise that the offences of neglect, abuse and so on can be introduced in a criminal law Bill immediately without waiting for an overarching framework.