Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Minister referred to PNA personnel. The implication of what I heard him say is that people who would be recruited to perform these roles and responsibilities would have, at least, the standard of knowledge and training required of professionals within the psychiatric services. That would be fine, but nothing in the Bill makes it a statutory requirement. Guidelines are not enough. There is no clear protocol or definite set of criteria to be met by those responsible for recruiting this personnel. Can the Minister of State assure us of the standard of person who would carry out this work? The words "agency" and "agencies" have been used. Are there agencies currently in existence which offer this service to the health services, and the mental health services specifically? Do they cover particular areas or regions? Where they do not exist, what are the current criteria for the recruitment of people to perform these roles?

I accept that a High Court decision has been handed down. Nevertheless, I find it difficult to understand why these amendments had to be pressed today, with such little notice to health spokespersons. The opportunity properly to inform ourselves to engage in this discussion is seriously impaired. I hope this precedent will not be repeated. It is a recipe for very bad decision making and very bad law making.

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