Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. In the first instance, I acknowledge the significant input she and her staff have had in preparing this extremely important, and groundbreaking in many ways, legislation. I urge her to consider amendments and sensible proposals made from the Seanad because that is what leads to better legislation. The whole concept of the debates and engagement on Committee Stage is to improve legislation. We have been waiting to improve and reform mental health legislation for a significant number of years at this stage.

I was delighted to be a member of the mental health sub-committee of the health committee, which was chaired phenomenally well by our colleague Senator Frances Black. Huge work was done by that committee. It engaged with people involved in mental health services and advocacy the length and breadth of this country. There were people in every couple of weeks, such as representatives of advocacy groups, medical professionals, representatives of the HSE and so on. People working on the front line all made the case that the mental health service at that stage had significant shortcomings. I will not say it was not fit for purpose. In some cases it was not, but to say that would be unfair to some of the people who have dedicated their entire lives to making sure people get the supports they need. The mental health service needs upgrading, significantly, and it needs to be done on a legislative basis. There are so many gaps and disparities in services that it is quite frightening. Depending on where one lives in the country, whether rural or urban, and even within some areas, the services are not in unison at all and they really need to be.

An area I am particularly concerned about is that of people with disabilities and their mental health. Somebody with a physical disability is starting at a disadvantage, to a large extent, and it can have a significant impact on his or her mental health, particularly if he or she is in a situation where he or she cannot access services. When wheelchair users, particularly younger people, cannot get into places their able-bodied peers can, or when people feel they cannot integrate, socialise, engage in society both socially and academically and in every other way, it can have a huge impact on their mental health. It is an area that a First World country like ours should and can get right. We have the resources. What we need is the drive and the political will and we need for it to be underpinned in legislation, which is what the Minister of State is doing. I have absolute confidence she will make huge changes in this area for the benefit of all and I wish her well in that. It is not an easy task when dealing with an organisation the size of the HSE. We all know that body moves very slowly but I have no doubt the Minister of State will keep on advocating. In my view, this legislation will enable and equip her to do a better job. I urge her to be open to sensible, prudent and practical suggestions and amendments that might come from this House.