Mr. Ray Henry:

The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, IACP, was established in 1981, to identify, develop and maintain standards of excellence in counselling and psychotherapy. Our work promotes best practice and development of the profession as well as the protection of the public. We are the largest counselling and psychotherapy association in Ireland with over 4,500 members. IACP provides an important link between those who seek services and those who provide services. Our vision is one where counselling and psychotherapy are an integral part of health care provision.

The IACP would like to thank the Chairman and members of the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care for the invitation to reflect on the development of talking therapies as they relate to mental health.

Let me introduce the team who accompany me, on my left is Ms Lisa Molloy, chief executive officer of IACP, and Professor David Murphy, from the University of Nottingham. Sitting behind me are the IACP representatives, Mr. Gary Culliton, communications and media officer, Ms Iwona Blasi, development and innovation manager, and Ms Bernie Hackett, vice chairman.

Let me hand over to our chief executive officer, Ms Lisa Molloy, who together with Professor Murphy, will bring the committee through our opening statement.