Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I was delighted to attend a reception yesterday at which our colleague, Senator Norris, handed over his personal archive of papers to the National Library. These document his campaign for equality and gay rights in Ireland. I echo the words of the former President, Mary Robinson, who at the reception commended his courage in illustrating the discrimination felt by gay people at a time when it was difficult to speak out about gay rights. Senator Norris said he intended to continue to contribute to the archives. It is not the end of the story as the campaign for gay rights is an unfinished one. As the Taoiseach said, sexual orientation cannot and must not be the basis of a second-class citizenship. It is appropriate to pay tribute to Senator Norris on this occasion.

Since the session began, I and many other Senators have raised the issue of mental health services. We had a debate on the issue and plan to have another. In view of the tragic circumstances in which a young man lost his life over the weekend, I wish to raise the issue of our approach to funding mental health services and the implementation of plans in A Vision for Change. It is getting to the point that we cannot believe words from Ministers. There appears to be a complete discrepancy between what is promised and what is delivered. The Leader and Deputy Leader must examine this issue seriously.

In this year's budget, funding promised for mental health services was reduced. It has been the Cinderella of the health services for a long time. As the base is poor, development slow and the move from institutional care to community care has been only recent, there is a moral obligation on us to pay more attention to this area in budgeting policy. One in four people will experience mental health problems. We must bring the services to the point at which those people have access to the community services they need, as well as inpatient services. Dr. Siobhán Barry said this sad and unfortunate incident was a crisis waiting to happen. She said the drastic reduction in the number of hospital beds for mentally ill patients had created major problems for those working in the front line. It would be appropriate in the new session to have another debate on mental health. Will the Leader talk to the Minister for Finance to discuss the budget for implementing A Vision for Change? The Government's blueprint was to ensure that the kinds of community care services needed would be in place.

This week we heard about a young man going to three outpatient clinics and community care services were not able to reach him. It is a sad and serious issue about which everyone in the House has spoken, yet there has been another reduction in funds for mental health services in the budget. If the Leader takes action on this he will reflect the views of Members on all sides of this House. According to the statistics available to me, children aged between 13 and 17 years were admitted to adult psychiatric beds in October and November of this year. This scandal must end.