Media reports of the District Court case last week regarding St. Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny were extremely disturbing. The case represents a damning indictment of the Department of Health. The lack of even basic hygiene as described was appalling. There is no excuse for it. The Mental Health Commission took the HSE to court. Reference was made to the condition of rooms where electro-convulsive therapy took place. It is very difficult to comprehend what the judge in the case referred to as the "physical manifestation of the lack of care" afforded to mental health patients. Is a review of the legislation governing the Mental Health Commission in the offing in order to strengthen its powers to allow it challenge in a more robust way the continuing neglect of mental health facilities and services? Is the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, aware of these issues? When did he become aware of them? What has the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Jim Daly, done in response to this matter?

I assure the Deputy that the Minister is aware of the issues that arose in St. Luke's and the contents of the report. The Mental Health Commission is an independent body with a new chief executive, Mr. John Farrelly. It is very committed to dealing with these issues and very much up for the challenge. There is an ongoing healthy tension between the Department, the HSE, those delivering services and the Mental Health Commission as a regulator of the services provided. St. Luke's will be treated like any other hospital. The challenge is for us to up our game and we intend to do that as best we can. The Minister, the Department and I are aware of the issues that have arisen at the hospital.