Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis, leis an Seanadóir Kyne agus le mo chomhghleacaithe ar fad atá tar éis a suíocháin a thógáil sa Teach seo. Is mór an onóir domsa suíochán a ghlacadh i Seanad Éireann agus táim fíorbhuíoch den Tánaiste. Táim ag súil go mór leis an obair sa Teach seo agus an comhoibriú eadrainn ar fad.

I did not speak yesterday, frankly because I wanted to take it all in. It is a huge honour to be nominated to Seanad Éireann, and I am very grateful to the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, and to the Fine Gael Party for their faith in me. It is a humbling experience to be here among you leaders and change-makers. I thank members of my own party, Fine Gael, but also the Senators and TDs from all parties across both Houses who have reached out to welcome me. They must all remember being new. I hugely appreciate their generosity of spirit this week – I really mean that. I have huge respect for all Members of this House. I mean it when I say that I want to work with them on issues that are important to the people we represent, but also important to the people who perhaps feel that they do not have representation in the Oireachtas. I feel that we have a responsibility to use our voices in that way.

In the coming weeks and months, I wish to highlight the issue of dual diagnosis relating to addiction and mental health. We are failing a cohort of people in this country who have found themselves on that knife edge, and I would welcome a debate on that issue. A person with a dual diagnosis is someone who presents with a concurrent mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder. We have not found a way to treat these people in a holistic way. People cannot enter a rehabilitation centre if they take any kind of medication, even if that medication is for a mental illness. However, people cannot get their mental illness treated until their addiction substances have been addressed. It is a systemic failing, and we are failing people when they are at their most vulnerable.

Eleven and a half years ago, I lost my brother to suicide, not long after he was turned away from a psychological facility due to his decade-long struggle with addiction. Cormac was my younger brother and he is one of the reasons that I sit in this House. I was very proud of him, and he would be very proud of me today.Senator Stephenson spoke so eloquently yesterday about living in peace and helping people find peace. This is just another example of that. Hundreds and thousands of people with dual diagnosis do find peace, but not in life. I want to work with Members of this House, not just to raise the issue of dual diagnosis but to address it and to navigate a way to help the people who feel they have been deemed beyond help. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to this House for a debate on this matter. Míle buíochas, a chairde.