Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It started yesterday. I wrote this speech yesterday morning so I can just scribble that right out and skip to the next page. It has begun in a timely and efficient manner.

There must be a reinstatement of the national director for mental health in the HSE who needs to report directly to the CEO of the HSE. The programme for Government contains a commitment to reinstate this position, but recruitment for this position is not where it needs to be. There has been no national director for mental health since 2016. I was president of USI in 2016, which feels like a lifetime ago. That is a long time for us not to have that national director.

We need to reform the Mental Health Act 2001 to ensure children's rights are protected when they access mental health services. Current legislation is significantly out of line with international human rights standards. As a matter of urgency the mental health (amendment) Bill needs to be progressed this year.

We cannot have a postcode lottery as to who gets services depending on where they live and the CAMHS service to which they are linked. That practice needs to end. I agree with a previous speaker that we need to extend the age. People going in aged 16 know they will not get seen before they are 18. Extending the age will prevent those young people falling between two stools. It is up to the Minister of State and her team along with the Minister for Health. We need to get things right for our children because if we cannot, what hope do we have?