Dr. Geoffrey Shannon:

I think I can answer that question with a little insight because I co-chaired with the current chair of the Child and Family Agency the review of the just under 200 children who died in State care over a period of ten years. Alcohol was a central feature of that report. If we roll on to 2015 I returned to look at the issue and found it is as prominent as it was in 2010. While the pattern of drinking may change, I would argue that the abuse of alcohol has not changed. I am being very honest with this committee. The issue is our ambivalence towards alcohol and whether we perceive alcohol as a risk indicator.

All I can do is respond in so far as it impacts on child protection. In terms of the implementation plan prepared by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which I welcome on this issue in particular, Tusla needs to confirm that persistent alcohol abuse is seen as a risk indicator and that is something we need to tackle. I have had the benefit of looking at the approach of other jurisdictions and relative to other jurisdictions Ireland is particularly ambivalent because there seems to be a culture within this jurisdiction of a certain level of alcohol abuse being acceptable, yet the evidence points to the fact that it has a profound impact on child protection and welfare. It impacts also in a very significant way at a financial level because it places an insufferable burden on the child protection system. I think that this needs a whole-of-society approach as well as a Government-led approach. I acknowledge the fact that there has been an implementation plan and that the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs met on the Thursday following the publication of the report. The point I am making this morning is that not only do we need an implementation plan but we need a timeline. An implementation plan is only a piece of paper unless the recommendations are actioned, and there needs to be a regular review as to what is happening.