Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

In regard to children's mental health, a frightening recent statistic indicates that 83% of children in a particular detention centre face an average of three forms of mental health difficulty, for which none of them is receiving dedicated treatment. In 2006, €11.2 million was allocated to mental health services for children but this provision was subsequently deferred to another area in the large black hole that is funding for the Health Service Executive. It is clear that children's rights are being denied. Last week in Athlone, a judge was obliged to remand a young person with an intellectually disability to a detention centre because there was nowhere else to place him. This is an absolute scandal. I ask the Minister of State to review this area without delay.

In north-east Sri Lanka, the Government there is dropping cluster bombs on its own citizens. This is an outrage. The Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister drew attention recently to the slaughter of 66 civilians in three days in the region, with more than 200 others being wounded. We also learned that the intensive care unit of a hospital was bombed, which is illegal under Article 18 of the fourth Geneva Convention. Yet the international community seems to be turning a blind eye to what is happening. I ask the Minister of State to do what he can to highlight this serious issue.