Mr. Martin Rogan:

The discussion and debate about mental health has been interesting in the past few years. Perhaps about ten years ago, we learned from colleagues in Australia where parliamentarians had come together to understand mental health issues. Mr. Ian Power has mentioned more significant mental health issues such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We worked with a number of NGOs which asked if there was a Deputy or a Senator who had had a sustained interest in mental health or self-harming. Somebody said there was a Deputy Neville, a tall man from the mid-west. We said it was Dan Neville. We were all talking about him. At the time, when there were 166 Deputies, we had difficulty in identifying more than one. We are really encouraged in the sector. A little like John the Baptist, we have been out in the wilderness for a long time, but eating locusts is not what it is cracked up to be. However, it is encouraging to see this forum, with Deputies and Senators taking a sustained interest in mental health issues. I hope the committee will have a sustained future and take an in-depth interest, rather than have a veneer or superficial interest, in mental health issues. In the sector we are encouraged to see debate rightfully take place here.