Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity of raising this matter of national importance and great urgency. The news has broken that Ms Louise Bayliss has been reinstated to her position by The Irish Advocacy Network Limited. I welcome this news and congratulate Ms Bayliss as the hard-working and caring person of great integrity we now know her to be. However, I am still concerned about the circumstances that led to her removal from her position when she showed herself to be a caring person advocating for vulnerable persons. I ask the Minister of State, for whom I have tremendous regard because of her passion for the mental health sector, to consider the circumstances of the case. Will she or her Department speak to The Irish Advocacy Network Limited, the management of St. Brendan's Hospital and senior management in the HSE about the possibility that this is happening, without notice, time again? Is the Minister of State satisfied that this issue has been resolved? What steps can she take to ensure it does not happen again? I know the Government is committed to introducing important new legislation in this area.

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