Ms Susan Cliffe:

Our regulatory framework does not include the use of fines. We generally keep it in the space of engaging with the provider, escalating through a process, cautionary meetings, warning meetings, additional restrictive conditions to the provider's registration, and cancellation being the nuclear option. We try to direct the regulatory action towards the improvement that is needed on the ground, which is why we saw stopped admissions to Portlaoise on foot of all the information we had about that centre and the findings of our own inspections. There has been much critique about how we do not use information that we have received. We use every bit of information we receive. In fact, some sectors critique us for the use of what they would call unvalidated information, which is, for example, members of the public, relatives and so on.