Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

Nobody, whether in Opposition or Government, objected to A Vision of Change when it was introduced in this House in 2006 because we knew it is what we should do with mental health services. I told the facilitator who I appointed to bring this process forward that while 31 March is the preferred date, it is not set in stone. It will not be 31 March 2013 but there is flexibility and that message has been conveyed clearly. In case people are under any illusion, St. Michael's unit in Clonmel is going to close and we are going to implement A Vision for Change in south Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow. We will provide a similarly excellent service to that provided elsewhere in the country.

If I said something in a free-flowing conversation, I will be more careful in future to avoid that kind of conversation.

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