Ms Patricia Rickard-Clarke:

Of course we will continue to engage and would be delighted to do so at whatever time and place. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of that legal framework and that it is not delayed. When we think back, it was 2017 when the initial adult safeguarding Bill was tabled. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health said it was an urgent matter to have safeguarding legislation in 2017 and 2018. We are here in 2024. In 2017, we also had the setting up of an advisory committee in the Department of Health on deprivation of liberty and here were are in 2024. There was a huge gap in that regard and it is now a very urgent matter. Absolutely we will engage.

On the 24-7 helpline, we do not provide any service at all. We have been asking the HSE. The HSE has a helpline between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and, I think, some limited services over the weekend, but it is not a national safeguarding helpline. Many people who are not interacting with health or social care would not have access. It is not a health matter. There is that massive gap and we need a national adult safeguarding helpline. There could be homeless people, say, or those who are subject to human trafficking or suffering large financial abuse, sexual abuse or whatever. If we get calls, which we do quite a bit, we try to signpost them to the Garda, the HSE or advocacy services insofar as we can, but there is that gap. There is not a proper service there.