Mary White (Fianna Fail)

Go raibh maith agaibh. However, I am afraid that I need to raise a further national scandal, namely, the attitude of the Health Service Executive to the treatment of children with psychiatric problems in adult hospitals. We have almost to become revolutionaries to change this diabolical behaviour. I am embarrassed by the HSE's treatment of young children. It is as if they do not exist or do not matter. Children suffer psychiatric problems and are suicidal but all we do is put them into adult psychiatric hospitals. The Minister for Health and Children must come to the House to tell us not that it is a matter of putting an extra 12 beds here or there but what the HSE is going to do and how it will prioritise the psychiatric assessment and treatment of children.

I spoke a week ago about Archbishop Martin's warning that we would hear about a scandal in the Roman Catholic Church that is nothing less than paedophilia. Paedophiles are monsters and must be dealt with. What are we going to do about them? The Protestant churches dealt with this issue a long time ago and we are only catching up. I will not be here tomorrow so I would prefer, if the Leader does not mind, that we postpone to next Tuesday the debate on this topic scheduled for tomorrow. I have an urgent appointment tomorrow.

We also need to discuss the treatment of autistic children. My sister is the principal of a school in Ballinteer which has an autistic unit. She and the parents are at pains every day to try to accommodate the children with autism who have no place to go. For God's sake let us get our act together. The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, herself needs to come to the House. I have tremendous personal regard for her intellect and intelligence. She is the lead Minister in the Department of Health and Children and we need her in the House to spell out to Members how we can address the issue of psychiatric services for children.