25 Nov 2020, 17:50
The Oireachtas Committee on Mental Health will hold its first public meeting, tomorrow, Thursday, 26 November in Leinster House, Committee Room 3 at 9am.
Mental Health Reform’s, Chief Executive Fiona Coyle and Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer, Ray Burke will appear before the Committee on Mental Health chaired by Senator Frances Black. The Committee is a sub-Committee of the Joint Committee on Health.
The discussion will focus on access to and continuity of mental health care at community, voluntary and preventative level.
Speaking before the meeting, Senator Black said: “Mental Health Reform is the leading national coalition on mental health in Ireland with more than 70 member organisations. The Committee is delighted to engage with officials from the organisation to investigate issues around mental health demand and provision.
“The Sub-Committee has six months to report back to the Health Committee on the obvious challenges that we see emerging in the area of mental health. There is no doubt the mental health issues associated with the on-going pandemic will surpass anything we have experienced before. It is vital we get ready for the additional mental health issues and demand on services that will arise and work on recommendations to respond to a significant increase in mental health service demand.”
Watch the Committee live.
The members of the sub-Committee are: Deputies Colm Burke, Neasa Hourigan, Gino Kenny, John Lahart, Mark Ward and Senators Frances Black, Martin Conway and Annie Hoey.
Committee membership
Deputies