Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is only fitting that we all acknowledge the sad passing of Donal Walsh and convey our deep sympathy to his family. As a mother of teenagers, I was particularly struck by the extent to which he was a role model at 16 years of age as well as by the unique message he conveyed. I ask the Leader to schedule yet another debate on suicide and reflect on how best to mark Donal's young life and to continue his positive message. He touched young people in a way that few others have managed.

I support the call for a debate as soon as possible on the report by Professor Higgins on hospital reorganisation. While it looks positive, it is worth teasing out given the broad-ranging ramifications it will have.

I welcome HIQA's stated intention today to inspect and register residential centres for children and adults with disabilities. There are 900 people with disabilities living in 1,200 residential centres nationally. They can be our forgotten people. They can be voiceless unless we advocate for them and ensure their services are of the high standard of other people's services. This is what HIQA is achieving. We complain about a great deal in the House, but HIQA is doing fine work. It has done great work in older people's centres and is now moving on to residential centres for people with disabilities. I welcome that and would like to see others do the same.