The publication by Alan Shatter of the investigation into how the girl known as TF died while in the care of the HSE finally has the media dealing in a serious way with child protection failures by the State. So far, there have still been no calls for social workers to be named and held accountable, let alone resign.

But it has been very interesting to hear Government and HSE spokespeople speaking of the lessons learnt from the case. Surely they are not talking about a 'learning curve'?

On RTE news last night, Children's Minister, Barry Andrews, was talking about the report and acknowledged past failings. Then he added: "I have to say that since 2002 very great improvements have been made in our child welfare and protection services."

That, of course, remains to be seen. The children in the horrendous Roscommon incest case were only removed from their parents in 2004, two years after those 'great improvements'. Maybe the HSE is still not at the top of its learning curve?

In Britain, meanwhile, failures by social services to properly protect children, or else their eagerness to intervene where no intervention is necessary, are legion.