There are serious concerns with the Bill. As is often the case with the Government, it waits until the last minute to try to rush through legislation. The concerns raised by academics and service providers need to be listened to. The University of Galway has raised concerns about the treatment of minors, the lack of meaningful engagement and the criteria for extending timelines. I want to raise concerns about the treatment of minors in this State when they are held involuntarily either as wards of court or through the mental health system. As often is the case, the State lets down the most vulnerable and those with the most complex needs. I am supporting a mother whose son was in the care of the State. She fought tooth and nail to have him held under the Mental Health Act 2001. This was heartbreaking. There were nights when I heard her cry. She told me she was a broken woman due to what she suffered. This system is flawed because to get him to court, he had to go to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. CAMHS would see him, but he would not engage with them and did not go. After much campaigning and fighting by his mother, she eventually got her son in front a judge and the judge sectioned him. He then went missing seven times in 21 days while he was on a court-ordered mental health hold. How can facilities not be equipped to manage and mind a 17-year-old boy who could be a danger to himself? He section just ended on Monday. He got an emergency discharge, but who is responsible for him? He went missing on Tuesday. His mother contacted An Garda Síochána and officers found him at 12 midnight on Tuesday. He is a 17 year-old child, but the problem is that in three weeks, he will be 18. Who will look after him then? Who will be responsible given he has such complex needs? To see their beautiful son and brother go through this has caused heartbreak for his mother and family. It is so hard. Will the Minister of State step in with regard to what we are discussing? Will she also talk to Tusla and the HSE? More needs to be done to protect vulnerable children like this young boy. Facilities for vulnerable people are closed. In my constituency, we have a brand new dementia centre in Heather House. All it is waiting for is to be registered by HIQA. Everything is done. I have at least ten people who will go in there and, again, these are vulnerable people. Will the Minister of State find out when Heather House will open? We will support his legislation but we flag that we have some concerns. The way the State treated wards of the State in the past was absolutely appalling. We need to do everything to ensure and make possible that they are heard, protected and supported. Will the Minister of State re-engage with those who are raising genuine concerns to make sure they are listened to and that we do not make mistakes? Everyone is in agreement that this a really important Bill and we need to get it right. We need to get it right for that boy that I referred to and for his mother, Liz, given what she and her family have suffered.

Sentiment score: -0.05