Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

We accepted the report of the expert group on mental health policy launched at the beginning of this year covering adults and children on the basis of future development and what we should do for mental health. The report has been broadly welcomed by representatives and psychiatrists. The independent monitoring group established in March by the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, is working on it. It set out what we are required to do over the coming years, building on what was done over the past number of years.

Last night, I had an opportunity to see where the service was before I became Taoiseach, but I will not give the litany of the sad stories of what it was then.

See this speech in context