Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State acknowledges that it would be best if the service was independent. Of course, we cannot do this because we have established that the Government does not establish new agencies but amalgamates them.

Accordingly, we, unfortunately, have to amalgamate this proposed body with the Mental Health Commission. Why did the Minister of State say this in the Seanad and here today when I pointed out Government has established new agencies? The Minister of State also claimed those agencies in question are self-funding, but I have explained the policing authority is not self-funding, while the other two agencies referred to are partially funded by the State. Does she still believe it would be best practice to establish this as an independent authority? Does she acknowledge that the Government has established new agencies? Does the Minister of State not find it alarming that all of the bodies that Deputy Ruth Coppinger and I listed earlier would like this to be an independent authority? The Minister of State indicated not just today but previously, that it would be desirable to have an independent authority but, unfortunately, the reason she gave is the Government does not establish new agencies, it amalgamates them. I have pointed out the Government has established at least three agencies. Is there room for reflection on this? Does she take on board the points made by Senator Jillian van Turnhout in the Seanad that the difficulty here is the Minister of State is conflating different issues by putting them under the Mental Health Commission?

While it is no reflection on the Mental Health Commission, I do not believe in sticking bodies under the one agency and that amalgamating them is the best practice. It certainly is not the best practice in this case. It is not my opinion but that of non-governmental organisations and experts which deal with this area. They feel it is poor practice and not the way to go. They have not been consulted about a serious decision.

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