Victor Boyhan (Independent)

I welcome what the Minister of State said in response to Senators' opening remarks, but I want to be clear that I meant no criticism of her. I know she has spent four years on this. That was her opening gambit when she came in here today, and I respect and acknowledge it. However, this is a bicameral Parliament. We are in Seanad Éireann, which is a revising Chamber. Every time the former Taoiseach and Deputy Leo Varadkar came in here, he said that he was conscious that ours is a bicameral Parliament and that this House is a revising Chamber. He was somewhat critical of many Senators over the years, but he urged those in this House to use their powers and functions as set out in legislation and the Constitution. We are here to add value to the Minister of State's Bill, to point out anomalies or weaknesses if we see them and to respectfully suggest improvements. That is the nature of our relationship.

I note the points the Minister made about 16-year-olds and CAMHS. I agree that it is very frustrating. There is not a day goes by, either during the Order of Business or Commencement Matter debates, that someone does not raise CAMHS. The Minister of State will be familiar with the former Independent Senator Joan Freeman and the work she did with Pieta House. We were frustrated on this side of the House. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been in government in some shape or form for many years, including during the period about which the Minister of State is now expressing concern in the context of CAMHS. We know all about it. We have family members who have experienced difficulties in getting access to CAMHS. We have seen people commit suicide as a result of not getting access to CAMHS or other mental healthcare services. We have seen patients with mental health issues going to the accident and emergency department, which is not the right place for them to go.I know of families whose hearts are broken trying to get support for people with mental health issues. It has been on the Government's watch for a hell of a long time. The Minister of State is not here to remind me and I am not here to point that out. I do not doubt her absolute commitment. That is an important point. I accept it is complex; we do not need to be told it is complex. I accept it is landmark, important and complex legislation.

I welcome what the Minister of State said about ECTs. It could be for 16- and 17-year-olds, or longer. In the course of my research into this work I spoke to mental health care nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists, who pointed out all the problems. I acknowledge their significant frustration in trying to operate within the service. That is the feedback. We are on the same page. We are not at each other. We are going to tease it out. This is Committee Stage. I will not apologise if I stand up here 30 times for every section if I need to do so to seek clarification. I thank the Minister of State for committing herself to give that time. I send a message to the Acting Chair and to everybody in this House. This is our Chamber. We have many days. We can extend our times. We can work longer hours in this Seanad, but let us get this legislation right.