Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for giving us the benefit of his knowledge and insight on this issue. His point regarding the importance of language is well made. I agree fully that care must be exercised in this regard, even in respect of the individual words and phrases used to describe particular situations. At the same time, we must take on board the reluctance people sometimes feel when it comes to articulating their views and experiences in this area. As such, our efforts to exercise caution in the language we use and to urge others to do the same should not go so far that they run the risk of shutting down any type of discussion. In other words, taking care about the language and expressions we use must not prevent us from having a sufficiently frank and open debate, whether in this House, in the media or elsewhere. Having said that, I very much take the Deputy's point regarding the great hurt that can be caused when factual misunderstandings and so on arise.

I thank the Deputy for his acknowledgment that the allocation of €35 million for measures set out in A Vision for Change will be maintained next year, notwithstanding the very considerable demands on the funding of mental health services. I am pleased to confirm that this funding, ring-fenced as it is for 2013, will be of enormous benefit in terms of achieving our objectives in this area, objectives that the Government shares with the Deputy.

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