Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I want to formally second my neighbour's, Senator Vincent P. Martin, amendment to the Order of Business. I know he is celebrating the great emissions results today and it is good to see the legislation coming through. I want to join in the words of sympathy to Gerardine and all the O'Mahony family on the passing of John, a man of great warmth, high principle and dedication. He had a wonderful teaching career and an illustrious GAA career and political career. It was a privilege to serve with him, to have his friendship and he was an inspiration to anyone who knew him. I know, Cathaoirleach, we will have a special day of tributes in due course and I will leave it at that until then.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the way he welcomed the Ormiston family here today, Elizabeth, her son Peter and her grandchildren Aaron, Philip and Moya. Elizabeth is worthy of recognition and mention in this House because in what has been traditionally a man's world, and wrongly so, she was a pioneering woman in achieving leadership positions in the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, and in the agricultural community and was in that way a mould breaker. She did it with distinction and for that reason, it is a great privilege to honour her here today.

I want to ask the Leader, because I know when I asked this before that it is a matter that she herself has grave concern around and I certainly have, where are we at now with the Child and Adolescence Mental Health Services, CAMHS. Where are we at in terms of waiting lists and reform there because we cannot have young people not having access at a critical moment to mental and psychological services? It is no good having access when it is too late and the harm is done.