Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady. I was in my office and became outraged when I heard the proposal. I am angry because my learned colleague on the opposite side has always spoken about the rolling out the policy, A Vision for Change. I seethe with rage because the Government is clapping itself on the back about introducing the national advocacy service when it is cutting services left, right and centre. A Vision for Change was about the closure of draconian institutions, but we have not implemented any part of it. Instead there are cuts across the board. I accept we are living in very challenging times, but I do not think the Government should clap itself on the back for piloting the advocacy service. Advocacy is fine and good, but it only applies when services are in place and up and running. Human rights issues are at the kernel of the issue, as people are being discriminated against. They do not have opportunities to avail of basic services such as speech therapy or occupational health services, yet the Government claps itself on the back for rolling out the advocacy service. It is a disgrace and should not be done.

A number of weeks ago 14-year old children were accommodated in the adult psychiatric service of Waterford Regional Hospital. That is an outrage. Advocacy is fine if there are services in place, but we should go one step further, especially in institutions and the services with which Senator Corrigan is all too familiar. There should be human rights based committees staffed by ordinary people who could represent those in need of representation. There might be a solicitor, parents and others on such a human rights committee which would embrace the service. That is the way to proceed. The Government should implement such a policy rather than have tokenism, or what I would call glossy tokenism. It should feel ashamed for clapping itself on the back in this instance.