Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I formally second Senator Higgins's amendment. Senator Clonan is no longer present; however, as the only woman left on the Trinity panel, I welcome him. He mentioned matriarchs, so I will now claim to be the matriarch of the Trinity panel. The real travesty is that there has only ever been one Senator from Killinarden in the Chamber, never mind Blackrock. I wish to speak to a very sad and important case. I do not know specifically how to have a debate on it but it is obviously part of a wider discussion on mental health. In all my long years of working in the addiction and homeless sector, I have been advocating and fighting for dual diagnosis in terms of service and care. Many people who have experienced extremely serious mental health conditions have ended up homeless because of them. While they are on the streets, people are often refused care based on their homeless status. It is not always said outright; sometimes the service will say it is not taking people in just to release them back onto the street. It means they do not get the care they need while they are there.

When I began to volunteer again in the homeless sector at the beginning of the first lockdown when we were not meeting in the Chamber, I met a young woman called Cherie Flynn. I have the permission of her family to use her name. I was very saddened to receive an email in the last few weeks to say Cherie had passed away. She was admitted for involuntary care into a psychiatric unit, which is not easily got. When I worked in the homeless sector there were so many people who were released from involuntary or voluntary care only to take their lives immediately afterwards or within a day or two of leaving care. Cherie was granted involuntary care although it took a lot of pushing for that to be done. She really thought there were demons chasing her and expressed suicidal ideation. She was a young woman living on the streets. Her family wanted to love and care for her but due to her mental health issues, she was not able to live in the home. After her involuntary care order was made, almost instantly it was revoked in the psychiatric unit. Cherie left and took her life by throwing herself off the Jervis Street shopping centre car park. We have to stop this happening. It is discrimination against homeless people and their ability to access real, adequate care. We should have statements on mental health specific to psychiatric care.