Mr. Stephen Sheil:

I will speak on children in adult psychiatric units. We are aware that enshrining it in law would not eliminate the practice. However, it would significantly increase the onus on the HSE to ensure the provision of age-appropriate regionally distributed inpatient mental care facilities throughout all six HSE regions. We understand there are cases for which it is required, but this is best practice. We have had the current law for 24 years, so this one will probably be for the next 25 years. We are trying to enshrine best practice. If the resources are not there, the onus is on the Government and the HSE to appropriately distribute the funding and those resources.