David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Like previous speakers I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, who said that the Fianna Fáil Party would give the Minister of State its full support, Sinn Féin will also give her its full support on this issue. We all need to unite on issues such as this to ensure they are not used as political footballs and that we work together instead to ensure the best world-class services available for people with mental illness problems.

I have taken a significant interest in this issue over recent years, since before I became active in politics. I attended a number of events organised by advocate groups for people with mental health problems. I was always impressed by the personal stories of people suffering from various forms of mental illness and the stigma they said was attached to the illness. Many efforts have been made in recent years to challenge those stigmas but many people believe they still exist. I recently attended an event at which I spoke to a local Waterford GP. He said it was amazing how many men came to his clinic every day suffering from depression. They know they are unable to function and cannot eat. When they speak openly to their loved ones or partners or parents, they are often told to snap out of it. There is a lack of knowledge about depression and how difficult depression can be for many people. The GP in question is a pioneer in this area so he knows what he is talking about. He says it is a big problem that needs to be challenged, primarily in the case of men but also for all individuals.

I was also very impressed at the same event by stories told by people who were in State institutions. It is appalling and one of the worst chapters in the history of this State that previous generations put people into institutions often run by religious orders. We now know exactly what happened to some of those people in State care. I listened to the tragedies and the personal stories of the victims of State care. One of the most important steps taken by the previous Government, and I assume it will be supported by the present Government, is the move towards community-based care. This initiative has to be continued by this Government.

Mental illness has been the Cinderella of the health services and this view is repeated by all advocate groups and by sufferers. It is the first thing they or somebody who suffers from the illness will say. One will find it is true when one looks at the record.

Senator Crown spoke about using comparisons with the North, the UK or Europe. We always seem to fare very badly, but on this issue we fare extremely badly. My party fully supported A Vision for Change because it was a first-class document which set out a very real vision as to how we deal with these problems. Funding, the disposal of assets and the ring-fencing of funding is welcome. As a previous Senator said, given that there has been a change in the economy and the environment in which assets can be disposed of, there is very real concern that the funding necessary may not be available.

There are many other issues I could raise. The Minister of State is here to take some advice. If we are here to support the Minister of State and Government and there is to be all-party support on issues like this, the views and proposals of parties should be taken on board. My party has been pushing for all-Ireland policies and co-ordination in this area. I refer in particular to the need to have an all-Ireland suicide prevention strategy.

It is wrong that we have two different health systems and sets of policies. We need to make sure that if there is good practice in the North it is taken on board and put into practice in this State and vice versa. There is much that both Administrations can learn from. The objective has to be to provide the best services for people North and South. We also need improved accountability and transparency in planning and financing mental health service reform.

We need to modernise mental health legislation in line with the new convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Crucially, we need cross-departmental action to combat social exclusion, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental health problems. We spoke about that in terms of stigma and perhaps this is an area which could straddle a number of Departments. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.

We have specifically called for funding for mental health services. Given that it is accepted, not just by advocate groups but the entire political system, that mental health has been chronically under-funded we have sought to ringfence 12 % of the entire health budget for mental health services. It is a policy advocated by the World Health Organization. It made recommendations on how states and countries deal with mental health.

We need to develop and promote suicide prevention strategies, ensure the provision of the required child and adolescent community-based mental health services and end placement of children in adult inpatient facilities. I remember meeting the family of a child who was put into an adult facility. It is a bad practice which needs to end. I congratulate the Minister of State, not just on her appointment but on the forthright way in which she has taken to her position.

People across all parties are delighted that we have a Minister of State who is passionate about the issue. I am sure she will do her absolute best, given the economic circumstances which prevail. These issues need to be tackled and people with mental health problems need to be supported.

I hope the document, which was one of the best produced by the previous Government, will not be a victim of the austerity measures in place. Mental health is an area we should prioritise in future budgets.