Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Boyle's call for a debate on mental health, concentrating in particular on the area of detention. Senator Boyle's story of a 26 year old girl who has been in a mental institution for the past five years because a person believes if she is not so confined she will be promiscuous beggars belief.

I recall the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, saying last week during the debate on the Health Service Executive that mental health is no longer the Cinderella of the health service. Unlike Senator Prendergast, I thought that debate was excellent. The Minister spoke for 20 minutes and was commended and congratulated by all sides of the House on her wonderful presentation. I do not recall if the Leader was in the House for the end of that debate but the following information may assist him when replying. The Minister had to leave the House ten minutes earlier than planned and, with the permission of the House, took detailed notes of the questions raised in regard to which she undertook to reply to Senators when next in the House. The manner in which the Minister was spoken of on today's Order of Business is unfair. It would perhaps have been better had the Senator concerned raised his issue during the final stages of the debate. Perhaps the Leader will clarify that debate will continue on another day.