Mr. Liam Herrick:

That is certainly an issue we are very aware of. What I can say at this point is that we are in ongoing engagement with the Department of education on this question. As the Senator knows, guidelines on challenging behaviour were published last year. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, along with the Ombudsman for Children and the special rapporteur on child protection, has raised some concerns about what is proposed with respect to questions around, for example, adequate training for staff in schools, adequate recording of instances for seclusion and restraint are used, and an effective independent complaints mechanism in such instances. We have raised those concerns with the Minister for education and requested a meeting with her. We hope we will have further engagement. There has been some indication of a willingness to engage and we hope that can be constructive. The Senator is correct. There are some concerns in that area that are very live.