Joan Freeman (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. I am delighted that he has been appointed and I congratulate him on that. I hope that he comes to this position with fresh ears and that he will not listen to all of the previous arguments that have been plied to questions on mental health services for children.

I also wish to say "hello" to Mr. Jim Ryan, whom I have met several times. I admire his dedication and hard work and that he is committed to working in this area. Last week and this week, however, we have tried to paint a picture of the reality of what mental health services for children are like. The only analogy that I could come up with was to describe the people present - the Ombudsman, the CEO from the Mental Health Commission, the parents who are in the Public Gallery and those who provide our services - as a body and the HSE as the doctor. We are dying. It is not that this does not matter to the HSE witnesses on a personal level, but they do not seem to hear us. Mental health services are dying. Until the HSE witnesses and everyone else who is present today can tell the truth, then we cannot fix the problem facing us. This morning, I asked for truth. I am asking for the same this afternoon. Then we can work together. There is no need for anyone to be defensive. We are all trying to make this work. I am asking the witnesses to help us by telling the truth about what the services, the HSE and the Department of Health can and cannot do.