Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care

Mental Health Services: Discussion (Resumed)

1:30 pm

Chairman:

I do appreciate that. We have three minutes. Out of respect to the Minister, Deputy Harris, and also to the members, I propose we leave the questions until the next session if that is agreed. Agreed. May I just say one thing to the Minister, to be clear for the sake of the members? He spoke about the oversight group. At the beginning of our remit here as a committee we were confused about what we were supposed to be doing.

There seemed to be an incredible overlap between us and the oversight group. One of the things that probably comes to all of our minds is that the oversight group is now eight months old. There still is not a work plan. We have been asking for that. It is taking a long time for that plan to come in. We are also not quite sure what the Minister thinks we are. We know ourselves what we are and we really want to support the Minister. One aspect in which we can support him is in looking at accountability and by looking at the questions the Minister may not be able to ask. That is what this committee has to offer, as well as dedicated members who want to make things happen in mental health services. If the Minister, in one minute, can answer about the difference between us and the oversight group and what is delaying them coming up with the work plan, I would be very grateful for that answer.

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