Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her genuine and thoughtful answer. Our basic requirement for patients when they have these crisis moments is to trust the system and to feel safe. That is a step to recovery and to being able to trust that system. A key point, particularly when the Minister of State's Department is doing so much in the area, is that it needs to filter down to the accident and emergency department. When I googled what to do in an accident and emergency department and what the best advice for me is, there was nothing or any advice for me. Nothing came up for me. When a person is in crisis, who does that person do to ensure they are not dismissed and do not feel inferior, a nuisance, unheard or that they are going crazy because nobody is listening to them? We must offer and make this service a far better one when somebody presents to an accident and emergency department.

I know the Minister of State is so committed to this because we have had conversations with her before about this. It is something on which I would very much like to work with the Minister of State to be able to understand as a local representative, to be able to help signpost my constituents and to give them the support the Minister of State is putting in place.