The Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment reported that high-support units in Irish prisons that accommodate mentally ill prisoners offered poor conditions and inadequate treatment. Reading parts of this, one would be forgiven for thinking it was a report on Irish prisons from more than 100 years ago, but the committee only visited Irish prisons in September this year. The report stated that one mentally unwell man was found "lying naked in his ce…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." For too long mental health has been the Cinderella of the health service. Years of neglect, underinvestment and lack of political will have led to systemic failures in the mental health service. This is a Bill of hope. It is a vital legislative measure that will elevate the plight of people seeking mental health supports to the forefront. The legislation aims to compel a change in attitude towards mental health at the highest level of policy making and governance. …

I welcome the Government not opposing this Bill and I appreciate the support this Bill has received across the House, or perhaps I should say across the convention centre. I acknowledge some of the points the Minister of State raised and her observations on the Bill. There was a similar Bill previously and I acknowledge some of the reasons which were stated regarding why that Bill fell. This Bill, however, now progresses to Committee Stage. I am happy that it will get the legislative scrutiny it rightly deserves an…

I join my colleagues in thanking the special committee, its Chairman and all the staff who were involved in producing this report. While I was not a member of the committee, I was able to attend its meeting on mental health. Covid-19 has highlighted all the frailties of years of underfunding and mismanagement across Departments, be that housing, health, small business, transport, education, community infrastructure and so on. I could go on. There is not a debate in this Chamber on any issue that does not raise the …

Community gardaí could be the cornerstone of policing if given adequate resources. They are at the forefront when it comes to problem-solving and collaboration with the communities they protect. From first-hand experience of meeting community gardaí, residents and the local police forum in my area of Dublin Mid-West, I know how valuable community gardaí are to our community. Community gardaí are, however, often hamstrung by the policy decisions of their superiors and the Government. Since 2010, community gardaí num…

Scrambler and quad bikes have been the bane of our communities for several years. It is not uncommon for a person driving along the Neilstown Road or in Bawnogue, parts of Lucan, Knockmitten or anywhere else in Dublin Mid-West in his or her own car to be confronted by a young person coming towards him or her on a scrambler. As often as not, such young people do not have a helmet or any protective clothing whatsoever. According to the Road Safety Authority, 48% of incidents related to scramblers and quads involve pe…

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to respond today on the very serious issue of clusters of suicides among young women in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tallaght last year. The fact that the HSE investigation has linked these deaths to the housing crisis, domestic violence, poverty and recreational drug use is a clear message that the Government must act. Parts of Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tallaght are traditionally disadvantaged areas with high levels of poverty. Poverty underpins all the issues I j…

There is one long-term recommendation in the report. The report states that there is a higher risk of suicide and suicidal behaviour in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation such as Clondalkin, Ballyfermot and Tallaght. It also states that there are higher than average rates of self-harm with myriad challenges faced by young women in particular, in addition to the lack of adult mental health staff in the area. The recommendation is that the HSE and the National Office of Suicide Protection should take steps to en…

Page 54 of the programme for Government refers to the integrated mental health services provided by non-government organisations. Pieta House was awarded millions in funding this year after it found itself in financial difficulties, with threats of redundancies hanging over staff. It has been brought to my attention by concerned members of the public that the Fine Gael Leader of the Seanad, Senator Regina Doherty, is now a board member of Pieta House. Senator Doherty, according to Pieta’s website, is also a former …

Public health and adherence to guidelines are paramount in tackling the current public health crisis. Transparency, common sense, public confidence and clear messaging are the measures needed to bring the public along with the Government with these restrictions, but the Government has been found wanting in all these areas. We supported the legislation at the time but the way the Government has acted since means there is much to be answered. There has been no transparency or rationale given as to why people had to s…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete the words ‘9th day of June, 2021’ and to substitute the words ‘9th day of February, 2021’ therefor. We supported the original sunset clause for Part 5 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. I am not against extending the sunset clause in this case in light of the rise of Covid-19. My concern, which the amendment attempts to address, is that the Department recommends the extension of the sunset clause beyond 9 November. Sunset clauses are exactly that;…

The primary medical certificate is a requirement for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. A Supreme Court decision in June resulted in uncertainty about the current legal basis for these assessments. Currently the HSE is not processing applications. Is there a timeline for when people can expect these assessments to resume? If legislation is required, it is essential that it is brought forward in a timely manner to ensure that those with disabilities, including those with multiple sclerosis, can acc…

The way this Government has attempted to rush through the Bill is nothing short of disgraceful. Survivors, their families, their legal representatives and their advocates have understandably been deeply distressed by the appalling way in which their wishes have been disregarded. It is not right for their testimonies to be sealed away for 30 years. They have been brave in speaking out and in sharing their stories and we must ensure their stories are heard. Thanks to witness testimonies, their life stories will not b…

I thank my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, for all his hard work in bringing this Bill to the House tonight. The former Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, used his power in 2018 to impose mandatory planning guidelines on local authorities regarding apartment sizes and standards. This opened up space for co-living developments. I use the word "space" lightly. Why should a developer be allowed to build substandard accommodation and why are renters expected to accept a lower standard of accommodation? Renters des…

On the surface, the budget allocation for mental health is to be welcomed but, as they say, the devil is in the details. I appreciate the additional details the Minister of State announced in the speech today. I will examine them when I get a chance. Of the €50 million she tweeted about on Tuesday, €12 million is for the continuation and management of existing services. My understanding is that the HSE may need much more for the continuation of these services. I have a couple of questions, although I acknowledge th…

Today is National Traveller Mental Health Day. Nearly 80% of Travellers who took part in a survey stated that they or a member of their family had suffered from depression, compared with just 8% of the general population. The survey, carried out by the Clondalkin Traveller primary healthcare project, involved Travellers living in the Clondalkin, Lucan, Newcastle and Palmerstown areas. Suicide and self-harm are also major factors, with 74% of respondents stating that they or a family member had suffered from self-ha…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to place mental health on parity with physical health; to improve provision of mental health services; to increase the quality of care for those in mental health services; and to provide for related matters. For too long, mental health has been the Cinderella of the health services. Years of neglect, under-investment and lack of political will have led to systemic failures in the mental health system. Experts described the mental health services to t…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Stewarts Care in Palmerstown is in my constituency. I have an aunt who is a long-term resident there. Over the years I got to know many of the service users. In my previous role as the Mayor of South Dublin, I invited the communities service users council to the mayor’s reception, which was a fantastic day. It is no surprise to me that several day service users have contacted me with concerns that the services have either stopped or have been really diminished. This does not only apply to Stewarts Care but people w…

In recent weeks, St. John of God Community Services wrote to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health about its current financial difficulties. Yesterday, its board had no alternative but to inform the HSE of a 12-month notice of termination of its contract. How has this been allowed to happen? What protection has the Government got in place for the 8,000 children and adults who rely on St. John of God Community Services, as well as its 2,500 staff members?