Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)

I will speak more about the under 18s. I am glad the comment was made about how some 16-year-olds or 17-year-olds are classed as adults. I think that is wrong. It is terrible to think of a 16-year-old being treated in this way. As a mother, I definitely think that if you are under 18 you are a child. I am interested to hear the witnesses' thoughts on 16- and 17-year-olds being able to make decisions about their treatment.

My next query is probably outside the scope of this, but when children have mental health difficulties and get appointments with clinicians, I think Zoom is very ineffective. I know many appointments are carried out over Zoom. I would be interested to hear the witnesses' thoughts on this aspect. Do they think speaking with children and carrying out appointments with them over Zoom is effective? I am interested in this point.

I turn next to involuntary admission, when people are put into prison rather than being admitted for psychiatric issues. I know a multidisciplinary approach is needed to correctly put people in the right place, but in my experience of seeing people who have been really struggling, very unwell and a danger to themselves and other people - and I am no medical person - they have ended up in prison rather than getting the help they need. I am interested in hearing the witnesses' opinions on this aspect and what the best way to move forward is.