Ms Kate Duggan:

We need a policy. It is happening on the basis of relationships. As Mr. Hone said, we are delighted with what this. Where we look at children within special care or those with the most complex needs, we were delighted to receive the support of an assistant commissioner of An Garda Síochána and the CEO of the HSE in joining with us in considering how we assess that need and respond to it. We are really grateful and are working really hard on a daily basis, but there is a need for a policy. Take the zero tolerance policy in DSGBV services as an example. In that context, there is a clear whole-of-government policy, a whole-of-government commitment and a way of holding individual agencies, including ourselves, to account. The establishment of such a policy is something we would welcome.

The final piece is around mental health legislation. We see many children and young people who might have emerging personality disorders, as has been described, and significant presentation of suicidal ideation who do not meet the criteria for mental health services under the existing legislation. We advocate that the legislation be looked at. I am happy to talk further about that matter offline.