Ms Fiona Coyle:

I echo that. I thank everyone who has been involved in this process to date. We have before us ambitious and transformative legislation. The process included every conversation that has happened over the past six months, and even goes back to the work the expert group put in all those years ago, but if we are to deliver on this legislation it will take more than words. It requires a cultural shift and for that to happen we need to have honest and frank conversations. It has been wonderful to see over the weeks of deliberations a huge commitment to putting in place person-centred and human rights-compliant mental health services. While we may have differing views on some of the detail, a clear narrative of support for the aspiration, vision and principles has come out of these meetings and out of the work various actors have done since 2014 and 2015.

The opportunity is now. Mental Health Reform always pushes for all legislation to go as far as it can, to be as ambitious as possible and to enshrine what we can in legislation, because that enables us in the work we do in advocating for service users and for our member organisations. It gives us a stronger platform to do that. I say a big "thank you" for all the work that has been done to date. I hope this is the beginning of a new chapter in our mental health services in line with the other conversations that are happening down the corridor around the assisted decision-making Act. We can fundamentally change how people with mental health difficulties or psycho-social disabilities are viewed and engaged with in this country. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste faoi choinne na hoibre ar dóigh atá curtha i láthair aige.