Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

When I was nominated to the Seanad, it was for the people. The questions I have are from the residents of the Owenacurra Centre. My colleague, Senator Frances Black, visited the centre with Deputy Hourigan. The witnesses do not have to answer these questions but I would like them to set out a reason, not for me personally but for the residents who have been failed for the past year and half. The Owenacurra Centre was closed in June 2021. The residents fought very hard to get mental health supports when the centre was closed down. They were moved to Cork, which is far from home. People with disabilities have the right to live an independent life. The focus of this committee is the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, as well as the right of people to live in their own communities. Given everything that has happened over the past year and a half and how people have been failed in the centre, how can the Mental Health Commission stand by that? When the commission met seven residents of the centre in August they did not feel they were listened to. Again, this is not my view but the view of the people concerned. The commission is answerable to the people. I ask the witnesses to put me out of the picture.

When the commission told the Irish Examinertwo weeks ago that it was satisfied there were safeguards in place for the centre to uphold the rights of residents, some of the affected families wrote to the this committee and the Joint Committee on Health stating they were shocked by the commission's comments. They said the commission had passed on their concerns to the HSE. How will the commission support the remaining six residents in the centre? That question has been asked on behalf of the residents. I ask the witnesses not to answer for me but for the residents.

In other countries there is evidence that people's gender and ethnicity play a big role in determining whether they are more at risk of ending up in a mental institution or in a mental health service. Does the Mental Health Commission collect and publish data on members of the Traveller community, refugees, women and homeless persons? If not, does it plan to use ethnicity identifiers? As a colleague has said, homeless persons and people with mental health issues are over-represented in the prison system. Does the Mental Health Commission record such data?

With regard to mental health, I know of many young Traveller men who feel failed by the mental health services. This is not directed in any way personal to the three witnesses but relates to the system. I see young men with addiction issues who have very poor mental health. I spoke to a woman on Monday whose son is in a mental health service in Dublin. We were trying to support the young man to get mental health supports. In many cases involving these young people, they are deemed to be just Travellers who are sick again. That is how people feel. How can we make it easier for people from ethnic minority groups to get the supports they need?

I remember going to the accident and emergency department of the Mater hospital about ten years ago. I am a chronic pain sufferer and sometimes I can seem a bit crazy over that. I remember I was meant to see a psychiatric doctor because I was in chronic pain. They found out that two screws in my foot were tipping off the skin and making it very hard me to walk. I was put in a corner. How people were treated in our accident and emergency department services was absolutely appalling. How does the commission plan for better practice?

What do we need to meet the needs of the people? As we know, the mental health crisis in society has got worse, not only for the Traveller community but for people from all walks of life.