Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the work Deputies Ward and Gould have put into this. I also acknowledge that the two Ministers of State are here and that there is a joined-up consensus. The Minister State, Deputy Butler, would have been aware, as well as the former Minister of State, former Deputy Jim Daly, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, that sometimes there is no colour, class, creed, religion nor politics when it comes to mental health. Sometimes we argue here and we agree to disagree at times. As legislators, though, whether we are in government or not, it is about doing the right thing. Specifically with mental health, this is an extremely tough subject but it goes across every sector of society. It does not matter what means someone might have in their back pocket, what kind of a house they might have or whatever.

I welcome what was mentioned in the opening statement from the Minister of State. We are on about dual diagnosis and it is not just about addiction and mental health. The Minister of State mentioned autism and disabilities and other things, because these have been things that have been neglected as well. I take on board the fact that she also mentioned the high-level task force within the justice system. I also acknowledge where her statement referred to it being recognised internationally that vulnerable people with mental health and addiction challenges are over-represented in our criminal justice system. This is a massive amount of work. In fairness, to Deputies Ward and Gould, as well as the Minister of State, we have a consensus to say that we need more time, nobody disagrees with what we are all trying to do and let us try to work together. I refer to the Mental Health Act 2001 and probably the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022, because that legislation comes into this, and there will also be justice, children and disability aspects. On top of this, we also need the resources and the plans to be in place.

The very fact that we are still talking about this is a huge plus. We are not arguing about this anymore but talking about it. We are working together with the Government, which is a big plus. I also acknowledge that the plans have been put in place for these pilot projects. It is acknowledged that it is needed. I remember being here around 2017, when I think former Deputy Jim Daly was the Minister of State, and how difficult it was for parents with children with dual diagnoses. I will never forget a case where the mother sat up in the Public Gallery and asked me to tell her son's story. It concerned addiction, not alcohol or drugs but cigarettes. The poor young fellow went into an accident and emergency department. It is not his first time there. He was lucky to be kept in but he wanted a cigarette. He kept being refused but eventually he got out and he never returned, but he never returned home either unfortunately. There must also be a common-sense approach to this issue. I recognise the amount of work that has been put into this Bill by all Departments, committees, individuals and groups. I refer to NGOs as well.

As I said, sometimes we come in here and we criticise constantly for probably not doing the right things, but this is an opinion as well. I can stand here tonight, however, and say we are all in this together. We all know of, and we have all been touched in some way by, this issue, probably some of us personally. We are all touched one way or another, in our families, by being directly involved or having been impacted by it. The one thing I always feel about this topic, and I have always been very passionate about it, is that if we can do one thing right and that if in ten years' time, if God spares us, we meet each other walking down the street, hopefully, we will be able to say to each other that we are glad we stuck together and worked together on this and that we have a system now that works. When I say a system that works, we must be empathetic with the people who are struggling and with those working on the front line. There must be a massive, joined-up approach that really must be resourced and supported.

Speaking on my behalf, and accepting what Deputy Ward said, this is all in good faith. We need trust and good faith to have a good working relationship. I just hope that in 12 months' time that we may not be back here discussing this Bill but that we might instead be discussing the overall Bill and saying that we have put in place X, Y and Z, we have moved forward and we have certain plans in place. We may need to work together again at that point and hopefully that can be achieved.

As I said, we are all in here as legislators and we need to try to do the right thing. I have been in and out of here for seven years. If we do not give this generation the support they need, then we will not have them in the near future. The way things are going with the world economy means these people need help.

The most important thing about the citizens' assembly on drug use is that we must start to take the criminal aspect out of helping these people who are using alcohol or drugs as their self-medication because they are in a bad place. The justice system has a massive part to play in this context as well. I commend the two Ministers of State who have the responsibility for their respective portfolios being here and taking this issue seriously. I again thank Deputies Ward and Gould and all the speakers. I also thank the Acting Chair for her patience. Hopefully, it will be onwards and upwards with this issue and we can do the right things.

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