Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Youth Mental Health: Discussion

Photo of Alan FarrellAlan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before the commencement of this meeting, I would like to note that during the private session, Deputies Rabbitte and Neville, Senator Warfield and I raised the issue of a lack of response from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to questions posed during the course of a public debate on this matter during the recess on the subject of Hyde & Seek and specifically the issues raised in the airing of that RTÉ programme. During the course of our private session, the committee asked that this be raised in public session for the purpose of highlighting that we are disappointed we have not had a response from Tusla and following this meeting the secretariat will contact Tusla in order for it to provide us with a reasonable response to the matters raised during that public session up to and including the number of crèches under investigation, the 37 that have been mentioned on several occasions. It is appropriate we mention that in public session rather than behind closed doors.

I welcome the members back to the joint committee and also our guests who are joining us this morning. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss with representatives of the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS and Jigsaw, the national centre for youth mental health, youth mental health. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Jim Ryan, assistant national director and head of operations, mental health services, HSE; Professor Brendan Doody, consultant child psychiatrist and clinical director of Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, HSE; Dr. Joseph Duffy, chief executive officer, Jigsaw; and Ms Sarah Cullinan, director of services, Jigsaw.

Before we commence, in accordance with procedure, I am required to draw the attention of our guests to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. They are directed that only evidence connected to the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind our guests, as I have already reminded the members, to switch off their mobile phones or put them on flight mode as they can interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for those following these proceedings to pick up what they are saying, and we would not want that. I also advise them that any submission or opening statement they have made to the joint committee will be published on the committee's website following this meeting. Following our guests' presentations there will be an exchange and members will pose questions. I note Deputies Buckley and Ellis have joined us this morning in addition to the membership of the committee and I thank them for doing so.

I call Professor Doody and Mr. Ryan to make their opening statements.

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