Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment my colleague, Deputy James Browne, on introducing this important legislation. It is obvious that this legislative measure has the widespread support of the Members of the House. It is an extremely important issue, to say the least. Regarding the comments made by my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, in far too many instances the only services available are those provided by voluntary organisations that must continually fund-raise and try to provide a service where, unfortunately, the statutory agencies are not providing the services they are mandated to provide. I wish the Minister of State well in his work. I am sure he will put the energy and commitment into it that is needed.

Regarding Deputy Boyd Barrett's comments about the pressure on people to pass exams, we all know from speaking to teachers, school principals and their support staff of the awful pressures on children at second level, in particular, and at third level as well. The step made by the former Minister, Ruairí Quinn, of cutting the ex-quota career guidance allocation was very regressive and retrograde. The Fianna Fáil Party made a particular point in its discussions with Fine Gael regarding the confidence and supply arrangement of the provision of an adequate career guidance service in our schools. We know from speaking to career guidance teachers that they put an enormous amount of time and energy into assisting students going through difficult patches in their lives. This resource within the education sector needs to be provided with better funding, needs increased numbers and needs the resources to deal with the complex problems that students present with today.

I have spoken to a group called Inspire that provides disability services and mental health services throughout our island. They spoke to me recently about the possibility of extending their services, in conjunction with the HSE, throughout our jurisdiction. They spoke to me in particular about the pressures on students and the programmes they have put in place at third level. They spoke to me in the context of the potential and the opportunities that exist for all of us to deliver services on a North-South basis. We could make improvements to the area of mental health if we were to tackle the issues and deliver programmes on an all-Ireland basis.

I heard Deputy Eugene Murphy speaking earlier about A Vision for Change and the huge commitment, work and leadership that our former colleague in this House, Mr. John Moloney, gave in his role in the Department of Health at that time. It was a very good strategy that unfortunately has not been fully implemented. There is no point in merely talking about this. Strategies need to be put in place but they also need to be implemented. A lack of resources has curtailed the implementation of strategies at times but whatever strategy is put in place, an implementation plan should be put in place at the same time.

We have national obligations to bring in legislation. We also have international obligations because we are signed up to international agreements and international frameworks. Again, there is no point in us signing up to these agreements unless we implement them. We must have full compliance with all our legislative requirements. Those of us who represent rural constituencies are conscious of the complete lack of adequate services such as, for example, services after 5 p.m. or at the weekend. Those services are non-existent in many cases and Members are familiar with the pressures that are put on individuals and families when problems arise in a home.

I wish the Minister well in his work and again take the opportunity to compliment our colleague, Deputy Browne. He has had widespread consultation with many particular interest groups in the area of mental health and has brought forward a legislative measure that, when implemented, will make a real meaningful and positive contribution to the enhancement of services, which we all desire.

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