Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important that the legislation recognise the centrality of addressing mental health. There is concern among people involved in the mental health services and several non-governmental organisations operating in this area that the legislation does not include a stated commitment to ensure one of the directors is a director of mental health. A later amendment refers to the position with regard to the appointment of the holders of directorships and the requirement, as matters stand, that new directors appointed to the Health Service Executive will already have exercised the function of national director within the HSE.

We welcome the Government's intention to improve accountability of the HSE but Mental Health Reform has stated that the Bill does not ensure a director of mental health has the competence to drive the implementation of health policy, including A Vision for Change, and that it should be enshrined in the legislation. In regard to amendment No. 3, I argue for a specific reference to the appointment of director of mental health. I will have to defer my comments on amendment No. 4 until the Chairman asks me to move it.