Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Seanad staff and ushers who have assisted, facilitated and supported us all who have been on a learning curve over the past year. I would like to draw attention again at the end of this term to the public consultation committee, which facilitated parents and other affected by mental health issues, and service providers, particularly those dealing with children. I eagerly await the report, which is due in September. I continue to raise these issues but the position is stark. We are failing our children again. Beds have closed in the Linn Dara unit and beds have not reopened in the Central Mental Hospital while staff are working in a stressful and chaotic environment as they cope with unmanageable and unreachable waiting lists. In reference to Senator Mullen's bizarre stories, there is a story this morning that elderly patients are being accommodated in a chapel of rest in County Donegal. That is not a joke. Retention and recruitment of staff is an absolutely necessity which must be tackled. Will the Leader facilitate at the first opportunity following the recess the excellent chairman of the consultation committee in bringing recommendations on policy and legislative changes to the House? Let us get them enacted as quickly as possible. Up the Dubs.