Results 541-560 of 636 for speaker:Joan Freeman

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: So they were aware of that. Ms Martina Kelly went through years trying to get help for her son. Does she believe that if there had been early intervention for him, he would not have ended up self-medicating with alcohol and drugs if he had been seen to as a child, or at the time when he needed it most?

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: To follow up Senator Buttimer's statement, he asked the ladies how would they spend the money in question. He mentioned a figure of approximately €150 million or €160 million as a budget for mental health. I am not quite sure of the number but 6% is spent on children. In effect, we are talking about €50 million for 23% of the population that attends mental health...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I invited the witnesses here today. I know it is the Acting Chairman's job to thank them but can I also do so. I am so proud of what they have done this morning. They were absolutely brilliant. Well done to them all.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank the Cathaoirleach and my fellow Senators. I will just paint a very brief picture of what today is about. We are trying to give the public, but also the Government, a clear picture of what mental health services in Ireland are like on the ground. While it is essential that we do not point the finger at the Government, the HSE or anybody like that, we must still be truthful, honest...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Before I ask my questions, I wish to point out that a common theme in this session has been the passion expressed by the witnesses. All of them have a passion to help the child and the most vulnerable. That was obvious from each of them. The session this morning was very harrowing but having listened to our guests, I have hope. Dr. Shannon has come out with the most profound statements....

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I will address a question to Mr. Peter Hughes, who mentioned that one solution to increasing staff levels or recruitment and retention of staff is to do with pay. He was involved in the pay talks recently. Where is the problem here? We are told constantly all the time by the HSE that we cannot recruit staff, so where is the problem? Ms Mary Nicholson from the ISPCC was right in that we...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Dr. Migone and Dr. Kavanagh were asked a question while the Chairman was out.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank all the witnesses. I have worked with many of them and their agencies over the years. It was a pleasure to hear them speaking today. In particular, I thank Peter Hughes, who is really telling the world what our nurses and doctors have to put up with. I hope that we can work closely again. I said to Dr. Shannon yesterday that he makes me breathless because his reports are so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Business of Joint Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: As we have a quorum, I call the meeting to order. Apologies have been received from Deputy Lisa Chambers. I welcome all those present to this meeting of the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. During session A, members will hear from me. I ask them to go easy on me. We will also hear from Mr. Peter Hughes, general secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, and Mr. Gareth...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I reiterate that this presentation aims to inform the committee of what will happen tomorrow on Ireland's very first public consultation day on mental health. I thank Mr. Gareth Noble and Mr. Peter Hughes for coming to help me with today's meeting. The public consultation day on children's mental health in Ireland is a unique opportunity for our nation to address the provision of mental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Questions to me or to the three of us? To be honest, it should not really be necessary at this point, but if anybody has a burning question I am happy to answer it. My statement was really just to tell the committee about what will be happening tomorrow. Perhaps when we come back in the autumn we could have the opportunity for people to make comments if they so wish. The findings will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: To follow on from that, it would solve many problems if the recruitment and retention of staff was addressed. It needs to be addressed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Tomorrow is the perfect day to listen to the stories from parents in the morning or the stories from service providers in the afternoon. Fortunately Senators will be able to ask questions during the day. If members of the committee have questions they want Senators to ask, they should feel free to ask them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I welcome Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, special rapporteur on child protection, to discuss issues arising from the audit of the exercise by An Garda Síochána of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991. I thank Dr. Shannon for appearing today. Before we commence, in accordance with procedure I am required to draw the witness's attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Sometimes I do not know what to say when I hear Dr. Shannon because his report is absolutely incredible. It gives a clear picture of what life is like. He said that he hopes after the outrage comes the action. Me too. He also described how life is lived for some of our vulnerable children. Those were poignant, strong and profound statements. We will now take questions from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: I call Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Does Dr. Shannon want to answer specifically Deputy Ó Laoghaire's questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: It seems more appropriate for you to answer the questions as they arise, Dr. Shannon. If you wish, please go ahead and answer Senator Devine's questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: Members wish to ask more questions, but before we go into round two I will ask a question. Dr. Shannon repeated a couple of phrases a few times, one of which is "a timeline". I am sure Dr. Shannon was not being cynical, but how confident is he that the Garda and Tusla will ensure his recommendations are implemented? Is he confident that the Garda and Tusla will follow through on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Mental Health Services: Seanad Public Consultation Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Joan Freeman: What Dr. Shannon is saying is he does not have any confidence.