I thank the Deputy for respecting the fact of the report being published later this evening. We can arrange a briefing for health spokespersons on that. I will brief the Kerry Deputies as well this evening. There are challenges in CAMHS, but 225,000 appointments were issued last year to people who attend. Some people get a really good response from CAMHS. As regards the point the Deputy made in relation to CAMHS and intellectual disabilities, I set this model of care up in 2023, led by Dr. Amir Niazi, who was clini…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Statements on Bluetongue (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - International Protection Bill 2026 - Financial Resolution (without debate and to be taken no earlier than 2.12 p.m. and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - International Protection Bill 2026 (Committee Stage) (to adjourn after 8 hours) - Pro…

I thank the various Whips for their comments. We have a request for four additional sets of statements this week but, as Members know, we are dealing with requests that came in two weeks ago, including for statements on bluetongue and on flooding. Notwithstanding they are all extremely important, I will consult with the various Ministers to see if they can be facilitated as soon as possible. The Order of Business stands.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Notwithstanding the fact that we have seen a reduction in suicide numbers between 2001 and 2025 by 28%, we have not seen the same reduction in suicide numbers in the Travelling community. Where once we ranked one of the worst in Europe, we now sit at about 12th. We will have a new strategy in place very soon - the connecting for life strategy. There were over 1,900 referrals into that strategy, which was really important. The Deputy is correct. Our suicide number…

I thank Deputy Cahill and I acknowledge the work he has done regarding the situation with CAMHS services in Kerry when he was a councillor and when he met me as well as the advocacy work he did with the families and the parents. I am happy to be here this morning to take his question and I will answer as best I can. As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I was in this role when the Maskey report was published in 2022. The report examined deficits relating to Child a…

Following a national audit of prescribing CAMHS, which we spoke about, where we did a random sample audit of 50 files in the case of every CAMHS team in the country, all 76 of them at the time, concerns were identified in 16 of 50 files reviewed in CAMHS in north Kerry. This prompted a lookback review of all cases open to CAMHS as of 21 November 2022. My main priority, and this will always remain, is that the children and families will be communicated with throughout the lookback process, which has happened. All fa…

I also welcome Cara whom I just met outside the door earlier. I would also like to welcome my colleague Deputy Tony McCormack. He has some students in with him today. They are all very welcome to Seanad Éireann to see democracy in action. I thank the Senators, especially Senator Cosgrove, for raising this important motion by the Cross-Party Group coming together to promote best practice for maternal mental health and women's health. I am proud as a woman to be able to stand up here and support this motion. When the…

I want people to be in no doubt that this is an area of significant priority for me as the Minister of State for mental health. The programme of work under way and the investment we will make will continue to show this. As I told Senator Harmon outside, this is a really good and decent motion. The Department of Health and I do not oppose motions just for the sake of it because it is Government and Opposition. I am really looking forward to working with the Senators on this to deliver the motion. The only place wher…

Yes, we do.

The Deputy kept talking.

It is not opposed. I compliment the Deputy on the timeliness of the Bill, after International Epilepsy Day on 9 February. Well done.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - International Protection Bill 2026 (Second Stage, resumed) (to adjourn on conclusion of the second speaking round, not to exceed 3 hours and 24 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be:- - Statements on the Report of Operation Kenova (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) - Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Ame…

I thank the Deputies for their suggestions. We will have the debate on the International Protection Bill 2026 this afternoon for several hours. Tomorrow, we will have statements on Operation Kenova. We will have the residential tenancies Bill before the House tomorrow for five hours. On Thursday, we will again have the International Protection Bill. We can discuss different statements at the Business Committee meeting on Thursday, which we do every week. The Order of Business stands. I am not accepting the suggesti…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for his constant advocacy on in respect of those who have mental health challenges, disorders and illnesses. As he knows, budget 2026 focused on the provision of a crisis resolution response, especially for those who attend acute hospitals out of hours. I was able to secure the funding, and I want to thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for her work with me on this, for our nine model 4 hospitals and one model 3 hospital, so there are ten hospitals in …

It is not opposed.

I move: Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Motion re Ninth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to adjourn after 3 hours and 24 minutes) Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Bord Bia, selected by Sinn Féin. Thursday's busin…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I have noted the requests for a debate on flooding and on housing. There will be five hours of housing debate on Second Stage of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 this week: 204 minutes today and a further 102 minutes tomorrow. It is a two-day sitting. This legislation is really important. We will facilitate discussion on Thursday around further debates. At the moment I am not in position to accept an amendment under Standing Order 35(3). The Order of Busine…

It is not opposed.

It is not opposed.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 5th February, 2025, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Defence, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th…