David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to strongly support this amendment and it is for that reason I added my name to it. First, this is a question of openness, transparency and accountability, of that there is no doubt. I remember when the Competition Authority legislation was going through this House under the direction of a previous Minister, who subsequently curiously became Minister for Health, the then Deputy Mary Harney, one element that was absent from it was a competition for the post of director. There was no provision for the advertising of the position. I understand from recollection that I managed, by amendment, to get that rectified.

It is very important that we pay respect to the whole area of mental health. This area has been sadly neglected in the past. We have a strategy to improve this situation. We cannot treat the post of director for mental health in any kind of offhand way. This is a post where we need the best and we get the best by publicly advertising the position and allowing somebody to achieve that position on the basis of the strict criteria mentioned by Senator MacSharry.

I assume the Minister will plead the time argument again but I do not accept the argument that was made in response to the previous amendment because, as I clearly pointed out, the Minister will be out of time anyway and so it becomes completely academic. By the end of three years the Minister will be out of time - the previous amendment was well argued. I do not accept the validity of the argument that what was proposed would put shackles on the Minister - far from it. It sought to simply ensure that the deed got done and the same principle applies to this amendment.

The post of director of mental health is a crucial one, particularly with the levels of depression, the incidence of suicide and the condition of facilities for people who are mentally unwell in this country. It would be very regrettable if we did not take this appointment with the utmost seriousness and do everything we can to ensure that this post is filled by the most appropriate person. Everybody would agree that the most appropriate way of filling it is by a proper publicly advertised search. I strongly support this amendment. I feel very strongly about this issue. A previous Government made a mistake at the heart of the Competition Bill and this House rectified that. I hope that again today this House will rectify what I think is an error. I do not believe it is malign or done in bad faith but I genuinely believe it is a serious flaw in the Bill.