Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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We have received apologies from Deputy Murnane O'Connor and Senators Ruane and McGreehan, so there are some substitutions. Senators Flynn and Wilson will substitute for Senators Ruane and McGreehan, respectively. Deputies O'Flaherty and Higgins will substitute for Deputies Murnane O'Connor and Griffin, respectively.

Our agenda item for consideration this evening is engagement regarding access to CAMHS for individuals with dual diagnoses. We will have two sessions. The first must conclude by 7 p.m. in order that we can start the next session. I remind everyone that this is specifically related to children and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and dual diagnoses. We are joined at our first session by the following representatives of the Substance Abuse Service Specific to Youth, SASSY, Dr. Gerry McCarney, child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Ms Maeve Geraghty, counsellor. We are also joined by Ms Ber Grogan, policy and research manager, and Ms Neil Moore Ryan, a grassroots forum member, from Mental Health Reform. Our guests are all very welcome. We thank them for coming before the committee. I would like to warmly welcome Neil Moore Ryan, who is an autistic woman and who has lived experience of accessing the services of CAMHS. That is absolutely vital for us. She is a volunteer with the Mental Health Reform grassroots forum. While the committee has an extensive remit, we are always delighted and really appreciative when we can engage with individuals who have had lived experience. Therefore, we really appreciate Ms Ryan being here.

To address some usual housekeeping matters, a reminder again for any member who is accessing the meeting through MS Teams, that the chat function is only to make us aware of any urgent or technical issues and not to make general comments or statements throughout the meeting. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask members participating via Microsoft Teams that, prior to making their contribution to the meeting, they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Before inviting our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I advise them of the following notice with regard to parliamentary privilege. I remind witnesses and members of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her, or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction. That completes our housekeeping matters.

We will have opening statements followed by the usual round of questions and answers. I now invite Dr. McCarney to deliver his opening statement.