Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I support my colleague, Senator O'Malley, regarding the comments about the family. We need to be clear that the State's primary responsibility is to ensure that every child can live in safety and can access all possible opportunities to realise their full potential regardless of background. That is the extent of the State's responsibility. We have enough to do in setting out to achieve that.

However, I disagree with the Senator on her points regarding CURA. Will the Leader clarify as a matter of urgency that CURA is in receipt of State funding from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency? It would be an outrage if this were not the case considering that the goal of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is to provide positive options. The work CURA does is quite valuable and given that it has both an immediate and medium-term focus, it is imperative for it to receive increased funding from the State to allow it to carry out this much needed and valuable work. It provides a positive option. People are very clear before they approach it about what it has to offer. In a truly pluralist society we must have the capacity to reflect all options for people.

Will the Leader invite the Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues and mental health to come to the Chamber to speak on the implementation of A Vision of Change. In recent weeks Members have spoken in the House about the need for a debate and openness regarding people experiencing mental health difficulties. We have all welcomed the advertising campaign by the Health Service Executive in that regard. However, if we advocate and encourage people to speak openly and come forward to seek help, it is imperative we have treatment options in place. A Vision of Change offers us the opportunity to ensure that if it is implemented, those treatment options would exist and we would have a programme to ensure the maintenance of positive mental health well-being. It would be very beneficial to have the opportunity to discuss with the Minister of State the implementation of the policy and the progress to date.