Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone to the second session of today's discussion. I welcome the following officials from the Scottish Government Mental Health Directorate, Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity Team, Ms Jacqueline Campbell, unit head, autism, and Ms Suzanne Kinross, policy manager, autism. The remit of the committee is to consider matters relating to services and supports provided by the State for autistic people. The committee is interested in best international practice when it comes to international autism strategies. The Scottish autism strategy seems particularly relevant to us here in Ireland given the similarities between our two Celtic countries which also have a similar population of more than 5 million. We met with representatives of Autism Scotland at the national AsIAm conference on autism, Same Chance, held in Malahide, County Dublin, in February. Unfortunately, we did not get to travel to Edinburgh and the representatives did not have the opportunity to visit the Houses. However, through the use of video conferences, we can learn from their experience. Perhaps we will get an opportunity in the not-too-distant future to travel, meet and have further engagement with the team and also meet the minister for health in Scotland. We are also interested in the autism cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament. This is an idea we would do well to follow after the dissolution of our special committee. I send our appreciation to the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Mr. Michael Matheson, MSP, and the Scottish Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Ms Maree Todd, MSP.

I now call Ms Jacqueline Campbell to make her opening statement.