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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Drug legislation and mental health

Summary

Mary Lou McDonald seeks progress on misuse-of-drugs legislation and clearer mental-health commitments; the Minister promises drug legislation this session and says a mental-health task force is developing a plan.

There was some discussion earlier about the north inner city. In that regard and, more broadly, in respect of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill and prescription medicines, will the Minister confirm to the Dáil that this legislation will be taken and will proceed through the Dáil before it rises for the summer recess? That certainly would give heart to the people in the north inner city and beyond.

The Government commitments to mental health services in the programme for Government seem opaque and non-specific. I note that A Vision for Change is up for review. I note also that the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland meets today to consider what industrial action it might take. Will the Minister tell us when we will see an implementation plan for investment and development in our very overstretched mental health services?

Comment on this

The misuse of drugs legislation is being treated as a priority and will be dealt with in this session.

On the issue of mental health services, I assure the Deputy that a great deal of care was put into the preparation of the programme for Government in respect of mental health. It is a shared priority of those who were involved in the negotiations, as it is within the Oireachtas as a whole. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, who has responsibility in this area, has convened a task force and is working to develop the sort of plan the Deputy is keen to see evolve. A parliamentary question to the Minister of State would get an answer for the Deputy.

Comment on this