Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support the calls for an urgent debate on paediatric and adolescent psychiatric services. The "Prime Time Investigates" programme should be congratulated. Like myself, I am sure those who watched last night's programme have all been greatly affected by it. I was lost in total admiration and emotion for the young people who were brave enough to go on the programme to tell their stories. I was gripped by the young parents of the little nine year old boy who felt he was hanging over a cliff and that they were holding him by his hand but that he was slipping away all the time. Nobody could be anything but moved by hearing the words of the father.

Out of respect to all people suffering with mental illness, we should try to have a debate before Christmas and concentrate on adolescent and paediatric psychiatric services and perhaps even include anorexia. We have three protected beds in this country for young people suffering from anorexia. Over the next five to ten years, bulimia, obesity and anorexia will become bigger than anything any of us could imagine.

As a member of the Joint Committee on Child Protection, I wish we had seen the "Prime Time Investigates" programme before we signed off on our report. I hope that in the upcoming referendum on the protection of the child, we will widen our remit and look after children suffering with mental illness.