Ms Áine Flynn:

I would support the need for advocacy. We would absolutely endorse the real and vital role that advocacy services play. We have functions under the Act to be that source of information and guidance, and to promote public awareness and confidence. We engage, as I have mentioned, with a diversity of organisations weekly, as well as having public information campaigns. It is a question of embedding and constantly reiterating the core principles of this Act. We are a new service. People need to know we have that function and that they can come to us for that information. We are probably busiest, in some ways, in the delivery of that core information and constantly working and developing our own resources. There is always going to be only so much we can do, as I have touched on. This Act applies in banking and financial services, as well as health and social care and the delivery of disability services. It is also relevant to the Garda and we have spoken to An Garda Síochána. Although it has been around for a while and implemented for two and a half years, it is still relatively novel and needs to be understood. The responsibility needs to be taken by those sectors to educate themselves around the Act, to develop their own best practice around it and to run with it. They can come to us if need be for assistance in interpreting the Act or for input, where relevant, but ultimately they must take ownership across these sectors.