Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. McEnery and Mr. Whelan. It is clear that increased resources will be required if HIQA's plan is to be implemented. Have discussions taken place on how the resources needed to implement this plan might be obtained? Are the witnesses satisfied that these resources will be made available? We can have all the plans we like. They might look good on paper but that is where they stay if we do not have the resources to implement them. With the indulgence of the Chair, I would like to make the point that I would like HIQA to inspect psychiatric institutions as well. I know this is not directly within its remit at present. We are extremely concerned about the quality levels in some, but not all, of those institutions. I know that the Mental Health Commission, rather than HIQA, is responsible for this area. We have made some points in this regard over the years. I am very interested in what Senator Crown has said. Perhaps we will have a discussion on that at another time. Mr. McEnery might not want to comment on HIQA's role with regard to mental health and psychiatric institutions, but I would welcome some remarks on the issue.