Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 1002 Wednesday, No. 3 9 December 2020 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Mental Health Policy: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 277 N00100Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 306 09/12/2020R00200Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 315 09/12/2020U00550Estimates for Public Services 2020 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 324 09/12/2020U00900Restoration of Private Members’ Bills to the Order Paper: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 325 09/12/2020U01150Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 325 09/12/2020U01175Ministerial Advisers � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 325 09/12/2020V02650Cabinet Committees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 329 09/12/2020X03350Covid-19 Pandemic � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 336 Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 339 09/12/2020FF00300Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 340 09/12/2020FF00400Disability Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 340 09/12/2020GG00350Land Development Agency � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 342 09/12/2020HH00400Northern Ireland � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 345 09/12/2020JJ00600Industrial Disputes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 348 09/12/2020LL00400Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 353 09/12/2020FFF00300Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 394 09/12/2020MMM00600Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second and Subsequent Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 408 09/12/2020NNN00200Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 410 09/12/2020NNN00500Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages� � � � � � � � � � � � 410 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 9 Nollaig 2020 Wednesday, 9 December 2020 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. Mental Health Policy: Motion [Private Members] 09/12/2020A00200Deputy Cathal Berry: I move: “That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — positive mental health is fundamental to overall health and well-being; — mental health is central in building a healthy, inclusive and productive society; — people’s experience of well-being may vary, with some experiencing vulnerabil- ity at some stages in their life; — the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic should ensure that mea- sures protect not only the population’s physical health, but its mental health also, as an equally important component of health and well-being; — many people may be facing increased levels of alcohol and drug use, insomnia and anxiety during this pandemic; — reporting of domestic abuse has increased during the pandemic; — bereavement, isolation, loss of income and fear are triggering mental health con- ditions or exacerbating existing ones; — people with pre-existing mental, neurological or substance use disorders are also more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection; — Covid-19 itself can lead to neurological and mental complications, such as delirium,agitation and stroke; 277 Dáil Éireann — the long-term socio-economic impact of the crisis is likely to exacerbate the finan- cial inequalities that contribute to the increased prevalence and disproportionate distri- bution of mental health difficulties; — Covid-19 has had a negative impact on access to mental health services and un- derscores the urgent need for increased funding; — underfunding of mental health services prior to the pandemic emphasises that the health budget for mental health is struggling to meet the population’s needs; and — the pandemic is increasing demand for mental health services; and calls on the Government to: — publish all data in relation to mental health and the effects of the Covid-19 pan- demic; — prioritise and build human resource capacity to deliver mental health and social care; — ensure redeployment of mental health staff during the pandemic only occurs in extreme circumstances; — ensure that mental health is a central part of the response to the pandemic; — apply a whole-of-society approach to promote, protect and care for mental health, as mental health actions need to be considered essential components of the national re- sponse to Covid-19; — include mental health and psychosocial considerations in national response plans across relevant sectors; — respond proactively to reducing pandemic-related adversities that are known to harm mental health, for example, domestic violence and acute impoverishment; — ensure mental health and psychosocial support are available in any emergency; — support community actions that strengthen social cohesion and reduce loneliness, for example, supporting activities that help isolated older adults to stay connected; — safeguard uninterrupted in-person care for severe mental health conditions; — ensure that mental health services have the capacity to cope with the additional strain experienced due to Covid-19, which they will continue to be under into the future; — develop strategies for more vulnerable groups in society as outlined by the World Health Organization and United Nations’ surveys; — utilise digital platforms to provide psychosocial support and early detection and management of mental health conditions; — invest in mental health interventions that can be delivered remotely, for example quality-assured tele-counselling for frontline health care workers and people at home with depression and anxiety; 278 9 December 2020 — strengthen communication strategies to support a national campaign to highlight the mental health supports that are available; — design all communications to be sensitive of their potential impact on people’s mental health, for example, by communicating empathy for people’s distress and includ- ing advice for their emotional well-being; — provide access to information about positive coping methods; — prioritise psychosocial support, including for grief and loss; — ensure the Department of Health conducts a comparative study as to which coun- tries perform well in the area of mental health and assess how Ireland compares; — build support structures for mental health programme strategy across all Govern- ment Departments; — re-establish a dedicated lead for mental health within the Health Service Execu- tive that reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer; — support recovery from Covid-19 by building mental health services for the future,recognising that all affected communities will need quality mental health services to support society’s recovery; — develop and fund the implementation of national services, re-organisation strate- gies that shift care away from institutions to community services; — ensure mental health is part of universal health coverage by including care for mental,neurological and substance use disorders; and — involve people with lived experience in the design, implementation and monitor- ing of mental health services�” I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Mary Butler� I am very happy to move this motion, which is my first Dáil motion. I am doing so on my own behalf and on behalf of my very good colleagues in the Regional Independent Group� As we have all lived through 2020, we can probably all appreciate that there is no more deserving, no more fitting and no more worthy topic of discussion than that of mental health resourcing in the State� Mental health is a vast area that requires absolute focus and absolute commitment to solve the issues we have� From the get-go, I thank Deputy Denis Naughten and our group parliamentary assistant, Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh, who did a huge amount of research into this topic, and who also drafted the wording of the motion� I also commend the Opposition and the Government who have pro- vided a lot of support for the motion over the past week� It is very heartening and encouraging to see that this is the case, and why would it not be the case, because mental health issues affect every party in the House, and indeed every house in the State? I will raise three points with the Minister of State. I will first focus on the situation in hos- pital emergency departments from a mental health perspective�