Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not mean this rudely but I would be interested in hearing what the Chair, on behalf of the committee, feels its role is. It is important we have a common understanding and a common agreement as to what the committee's role is. I see this committee as having an opportunity to scrutinise in a public forum the working of our mental health services. That is extraordinarily important. I am encouraged by the way the committee has carried out its work to date because I happened to see some of the meeting where the chief officers were in from the HSE. All too often as politicians we just look at the resourcing issue, and that is not to excuse myself from the resourcing area. However, it also what happens when the funding leaves Hawkins House or Merrion Street and goes out into the community.

It is also about how the funding provided to the communities is being spent, whether we are getting bang for our buck in terms of the services we want delivered and whether everything that can be done is being done in terms of recruitment and retention. The role of this committee, as the people's representatives, is to scrutinise and hold to account those who have a responsibility for our mental health services, including myself. My colleague, Deputy Daly, who is charged with responsibility for mental health within the Department of Health is open to working with the committee as a forum in which to stress test ideas, good and bad.

In regard to the oversight group, my understanding is that it has met four times but that as it took some time to get the various experts together membership of the group was only finalised before Christmas. I understand also that it is to produce a work plan soon. I will revert to the committee on how quickly that will happen. I know that the Chairman of the oversight group wants to share that work plan and I will ensure it is shared with this committee so that it can track that what we are committing to deliver is being delivered.