Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is my first Order of Business of the year and I did not get a chance to come in last week. I take this opportunity to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ms Ashling Murphy. She was a beautiful young woman who was needlessly murdered. I also express my condolences to the family and friends of all the women who have died needlessly and violently at the hands of men in Ireland. I welcome today's statements on gender-based violence and violence against women. The murder of Ashling is so sad and it is clearly not an isolated incident. It provides an opportunity for a watershed moment in Irish history. I did not intend to speak today but I will speak to that matter. Statements may be of little consolation to Ashling's family and friends but we must ensure her death was not in vain.

I call for a discussion of the recent review of care of children in the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in Kerry. What has happened in truly shocking. We have heard about the risky treatment of 227 children and significant harm done to 46 service users. It is absolutely vital the matter is discussed. How can this happen again? There was nobody really looking to see what was going on down there. It is the same HSE that is closing services at the Owenacurra centre and it is another area that must be addressed. We must consider why that centre is being closed and so many people are being moved out of the service. It is a place they have considered their home for the past 20-odd years. My main call today is for a debate on the review of the care of children under the mental health services in Kerry.