Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I question the relevance of any legislation put through by a Government which has called time on itself. We have very important legislation to deal with and amendments have been tabled to many Bills, particularly the Nurses and Midwives Bill, which require careful consideration and should receive our full attention without, as Senator O'Toole said, Members having a go at each other. The serious business of the House is legislation. In that regard, a Government which has pulled the plug should shelve any legislation of importance to the future of any organisation.

Deputy Higgins recently spoke about the need to introduce a rights based approach to mental health policy where services would be structured to meet people's needs rather than dictated to by budgetary circumstances. At just 5.3% of the overall budget, the mental health budget is paltry, although there is some good news in that there has been a rowing back on the decision to cut the budget by 5% in the upcoming budget, particularly as it affects Rehab.

A serious issue has been raised in the House on many occasions and at the Joint Committee on Health and Children regarding section 55 and its application to the facilities of St. Luke's and St. Michael's in Clonmel. A report commissioned by the Government and prepared by Dr. Shanker has never been released. It exonerated the staff in respect of any wrongdoing in the management and treatment of patients, particularly in dealing with fractures. I call on the Minister to immediately release the report.

There was an announcement last year of the closure of 49 acute beds in the psychiatric unit attached to South Tipperary General Hospital, a decision which was made without consultation. As a result, the Minister appointed Dr. Hillary to prepare a report which I understand has been on her desk since the end of October. She has received a request from the consultants for a copy of the report, but, as yet, she has not released it. I submitted a freedom of information request last February, but, to date, I have not received a response. I do not know whether I will have to refer the matter to the Ombudsman. Will the Minister come to the House to explain why these reports have not been released on a decision that adversely affects people suffering from mental health illnesses? On 10 November the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, undertook in the House to come back to me within a fortnight with the answers to my questions, but he has not yet done so. In the House Ministers pay lip service to Members' requests and say they will do something. I know I am like a dog with a bone on this, but it is a very serious issue which has serious implications for the people I represent. When he says something, does the Minister of State intend to follow through on it? Is there a good reason I cannot receive a response to freedom of information requests? Why can the Shanker and Hillary reports not be given to the consultants and released publicly? We seek clarity and transparency.