Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our new colleague, Senator Nikki Bradley, to the House, which I did not have the opportunity to do previously. I know she will add a new and important perspective to our debates. It is wonderful to have her here. She is a neighbour of mine in Ulster, from the neighbouring county. I have huge affinities from childhood with Donegal and I look forward to working with her.

I support the remarks of Senator Gavan in relation to the Cathaoirleach, Mr. Martin Groves, Ms Bridget Doody and all of the staff, including all of our ushers. I wish them all a good summer and thank them for the good work that is done here. Things do not just happen by accident. There is a lot of background activity and I thank them all for that.

The good budgetary situation we are now in and the fact that a special Cabinet subcommittee on disability has been set up provide us with a unique opportunity to combine financial input with whatever background administrative changes are necessary through the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who is very engaged with these issues.This should be the budget, the year and the Government to bring an end to the waiting lists for assessments for myriad conditions, including autism, dyspraxia and dyslexia. A whole lot of assessments are required for young children to bring an end to the waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. The opportunity is there because of our budgetary position and the will to do it should be there. I am proposing that when we return from the recess, there should be a set of debates before the budget or as the budget takes place, but ideally before it, on the issue of waiting lists. In a country with the wealth we have, those waiting lists are a scandal that needs to end. We have the opportunity to do that now and right-thinking people want it done. It behoves us to go about doing so. I ask the Leader to get the Seanad to be a leader in this area.