Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Committee on Children and Equality

Engagement with Office of the Ombudsman for Children

2:00 am

Dr. Niall Muldoon:

We have said before it is a failure of the system if we must go down this route. As Ms Ward said, these systems are built around relationships and the trust that comes from working with good staff to feel secure and attached.

If you have a big, burly security guard, it sends out the message that we do not trust people, no matter what we say and how we are trying to create an attachment, and that we are still worried that they might hurt us.