Mr. Nick Henderson:

Those are serious problems and the testimony of everybody today has spelled that out plainly and clearly to all of us, ourselves included. The simple remoteness of some centres may make it difficult to access mainstream services, as has been well explained. Let us not forget that existing mental health services in Ireland are already stretched. GP lists may be full and one may have to travel to a GP. As Mr. Khambule explained, there have been several incidents of suicide and I can think of three within the past three years.

There are clearly deep problems and there is a framework for that to change. The law that was passed in June of last year states that the Minister for Health shall ensure that a recipient has access to emergency healthcare and such healthcare as is necessary for the treatment of serious illnesses and mental disorders. There is, therefore, a framework and a clear legal obligation on the State to ensure that people with such mental health problems are given proper assistance.

The two organisations here today and six other organisations released a statement last Sunday highlighting the fact that there is no vulnerability assessment procedure as required by that law in Ireland. In June, it will be 12 months since that law was passed. If there was a vulnerability assessment procedure, that would mean that if people were to arrive, they would be assessed and a determination would be made on what special reception needs they have such as if they have children and all the issues around children that Ms Vuma has explained, if they have health needs and if it is appropriate that they are accommodated in somewhere such as Knockalisheen. That has not happened and that is a clear absence of, gap in or non-implementation of law and that is seriously problematic.