Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the issue of the worsening health service in the midlands and ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, would return to the House to debate the health services for the midlands and the provision of a centre of excellence, a new primary care unit, which has been promised for ten years for Athlone, and on the desperate news of the closure of the 16-bed ward in Portiuncula Hospital.

I join with the other Senators in support of the call for a debate on psychiatric services. I, too, am appalled at the terrible situation of that poor man being mowed down in the prime of his life. I ask that the psychiatric services would not be treated in such a dismal manner, that funding would not be cut to such an extent and that we would recognise the dignity of people suffering with psychiatric illness and treat them accordingly. If one takes on the closing down of services and institutions, one should provide community care facilities to help these poor unfortunate people who are suffering from depression. One in four people will suffer from some form of psychiatric illness in their lifetime, and it is a live issue. The cut in funding for prevention of suicide seems to have gone unnoticed in the budget. It is a serious issue.