Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for her positive comments. I am aware of the concerns of the ISPCC, and also the ISPCC's hearing of some of the changes that Tusla is bringing in place here over the next number of months in terms of the out-of-hours services and that it sees them as a step in the right direction as well.

In terms of the inter-agency co-operation that Deputy O'Sullivan is speaking about, as Dr. Shannon pointed out, there is clearly room for significant improvement in that regard. My understanding is that it has a lot to do with where he has talked about and his call for a cultural change in the context of the child protection system.

It has a great deal to do with inter-agency co-operation, central to which we need to continue to ensure there is an ongoing development of trust between An Garda Síochána and Tusla. There are a number of ways in which that must happen. As we move past the first audit of the use of section 12 of the legislation and the work of the strategic liaison committee, I have indicated to that committee my concerns and intent that ongoing inter-agency co-operation continues, and that the cultural change aspect of the implementation plan must be clearly reflected in the way in which it oversees the work of the implementation plan. It is important that the committee is overseeing and trying to ensure that inter-agency co-operation. If we really drill down, what does that mean? It needs to be happening at every level but particularly at the level of the individual child in a case and on the ground.

I want professionals, wherever they work, to put child protection at the top of their agenda and not to think that it is a matter for someone else to do or that filling out a form relieves them of their obligations. I want professionals on the ground, whether they be gardaí, social workers, public health nurses or teachers, to co-operate with each other. That means going to meetings, picking up the phone, getting to know their opposite number, explaining to each other what their role is, listening to their concerns and worries, challenging each other, and not laying the blame when there are difficult decisions to be made. Those are the nitty gritty aspects of the cultural change that Dr. Shannon referred to and that needs to happen. High level committees need to be attentive too, but we need to respond to the call for a change in the way that they will ultimately work better together, involving a large number of officials and practitioners in various disciplines. That is what it means and that is ultimately when we will get better forms of inter-agency and individual co-operation.