Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also thank Deputy Browne of Fianna Fáil for bringing this important motion forward. I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on this important subject. We all know too many people, young and old, who have lost their lives due to severe mental health problems and suicide. I believe that the HSE and the Department of Health are not at the races at all in delivering a proper service. I compliment the staff working in the services, however. They are working to the best of their ability amid the constraints of the environment with which they have to deal. It is very clear that when an unfortunate person presents at the weekend, in many instances there is no assistance available and that person is then sent home.

That has resulted in the loss of lives and that is not good enough. As Deputy Michael Healy-Rae stated, youngsters from the age of 13 or 14 up to the age of 22 or 23 should not be treated as adults or put into a ward with adults who have a long history of mental health problems. It is wrong to put those youngsters into that environment. We should be striving to get away from that situation. All of our hospitals should be examined and new systems put in place to deal with these scenarios. Some of these young people need one-to-one professional care and to talk with trained psychiatrists. Invariably, those services are not readily enough available. Instead, sedation may be used and that is not good enough. I have gone into someone else's time.

See this speech in context