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

I moved the amendment against the historic backdrop of mental health being the poor relation within the health services. We have seen ample evidence of this across a succession of Administrations. I do not have to cite instances, even in our current circumstances, in regard to the failure to ring fence mental health and A Vision for Change. There is understandable nervousness in this regard. It might have been a better idea to have named them all, as the Minister has just done, and I welcome that he has confirmed there will be a director of mental health. Perhaps, however, that is just the Minister's call at this point in time. If the legislation does not specify and confirm this, it will be open to change in the future when the same degree of acceptance of the importance of mental health might not apply. That would be absolutely tragic and I hope it never comes to pass. The Minister has the ball at his feet in terms of guaranteeing the position not only during the course of his own tenure, but also beyond it. We would safeguard the importance of mental health by specifically referring to a director of mental health within the new directorate. That is the purpose of the amendment and I am in the Minister's hands.