At the outset, I would like to be associated with the comments in relation to the loss of one of our ushers, Seamus Carroll from Tipperary. I have been in this House for ten years and have to say, he was an absolute gentleman. I wish to express my condolences to his family and all his colleagues across the House. It is a very tough day on everyone. I thank Senator Costello for the opportunity to address the House today on an issue that is of profound importance to many individuals and families across Ireland. As Mi…

The Senator is right. As she knows, every case is extremely complex. Families are at breaking point trying to deal with this on a daily basis, whereas we know recovery is possible. We know early intervention in psychosis, if people can get the support of an early intervention in psychosis team, makes all the difference, but some people find it hard to accept that and accept the support and care that can be offered. I think that is the issue the Senator is trying to raise. Involuntary detention is very clear. We deb…

I thank Senator Noonan for the opportunity to address the Seanad on this issue. He has made a very compelling case. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The State acknowledges the importance of access to new and innovative medicines for patients and is acutely aware of the challenges that patients diagnosed with asthma face. By way of background, MART inhalers are combination medicines that combine a steroid with formoterol, a long-acting bronchodilat…

I have noted the Senator's comments. I also want to acknowledge the work that the Asthma Society of Ireland does. It is very supportive of families, especially families dealing with young children that are trying to grapple with the situation when they find out their child may be asthmatic. As the House knows, affordable access to medicines remains a priority for the Government. Ireland is among the highest spenders on health across the EU and has the third highest rate of state coverage of pharmaceutical expenditu…

That scheme costs €300 million.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Statement of Estimates for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (without debate) - Motion re Sittings and Business of the Dáil (without debate) - Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Public Transport and Fare Increases, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Statem…

I thank the Opposition Members for their requests. In relation to the situation in Drumcree in the North, we all understand how sensitive a time this is. The Taoiseach addressed looking for a pathway forward under Leaders' Questions. It is important that everyone involved from the Minister for foreign affairs to the UK Secretary of State and, importantly, the communities are allowed to continue. Statements in relation to CHI will be scheduled in the next couple of weeks. I heard the other requests but we have signi…

Not opposed.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, or in the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders, and unless the Dáil shall otherwise order, the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the sittings of the Dáil on 6th, 7th and 8th October, 2026: (1) ( a ) in relation to the times of sittings, the suspension of the sittings and the adjournment of the House— (i) the Dáil shall meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and at 10.23 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, (ii) on Tuesda…

I thank Senator Cosgrove for the opportunity to discuss this important matter of breast density notification. I have just come from the Dáil Chamber where I took a Topical Issue matter in relation to the important matter of breast screening. I am taking both on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The first thing I want to mention, and the Senator said it as well, is the importance of breast screening. Unfortunately, only 70% of people take up their appointment; one out of every three does not. Any time…

I thank Deputies Bennet and Newsome Drennan for this opportunity to discuss the important matter of breast screening. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I genuinely thank the Deputies for raising it. It is really important. The more awareness we can bring to breast cancer screening, the better. It is not often I get the opportunity. I will be in the Seanad at 10.30 a.m. answering a similar question and I welcome that. I am standing here as, I assume, the on…

I thank Senator Cosgrove. I assure her I will bring her views on this important matter back to the Minister for Health. It is important for me to clarify for the House that the BreastCheck programme does not currently collect, record or report on breast density scores. Determining the merits or otherwise of introducing such a notification is precisely the purpose of the HTA process, which should be allowed run its course. It is under way. Population-based screening programmes are intended for individuals without sy…

The Deputy certainly does not look old enough. I am going to draw on my own lived experience in relation to this because is really important. If we only take one thing away from today it is that we urge every eligible woman to attend for breast screening when they are called as the numbers are only at 70%. The last time I attended was two years ago in the summer. I remember arriving at about 11.05 a.m., five minutes late, and I apologised to the nurse on duty who told me not to worry as I was the first person to ar…

As Deputies will know, I cannot talk about individual cases on the floor of the Dáil.

Sorry, but it is not an over-and-back. The most important thing we can do leaving here today is to encourage women, first and foremost, to avail of screening. Only 70% of BreastCheck screenings are accessed every year. That means two out of every three women avail of the service. We can all agree that we should leave here today trying to encourage people to avail of it. The second point is that one third of all breast cancers are detected through screening. I have a very good friend who, many years ago, went for he…

I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue and for his persistent advocacy in relation to mental health. The Mental Health Act 2001 sets out the current legal framework for the involuntary admission and treatment of people in inpatient mental health services, known as approved centres, where a person has a mental disorder within the meaning of the Act. Even though I passed the Mental Health Act earlier this year through the Houses and the President signed it into law, it has not been enacted because…

The Deputy mentioned several cases that I cannot speak to individually. However, I must be crystal clear that there are absolutely no circumstances where, if a consultant psychiatrist determines that a person must be involuntarily detained against their consent for their own safety or the safety of others, there is a resource issue. That is categorically not true. If we do not have enough capacity-----

The Deputy cannot throw out statements like that, saying it is a resource issue in relation to involuntary detention.

I am sorry, but Deputy Ó Murchú must listen to the answer because we cannot just change a whole piece of legislation that has been there since 2001 for individual cases. We have to be very clear that there are huge criteria relating to how people are involuntarily detained, especially when they do not have capacity. We did not mention that today. We also did not mention the fact that, in a lot of these cases, there is a dual diagnosis of a mental disorder and drug addiction. It has to be understood that it is not d…

Perinatal mental healthcare has been transformed over the past ten years. We now have six consultant-led multidisciplinary teams in our major maternity hospitals and specialist perinatal midwives providing targeted supports in a further 13 hospitals. This means that perinatal mental health services are now available in all 19 maternity hospitals. The demand has been huge. Nearly one in five of all pregnant mothers has looked for support. Some need more support than others. In budget 2026, I funded a further consult…