We are resuming in public session. We have six petitions for consideration today. No. P00008/23 is a petition to stop legal netting of Atlantic salmon in Castlemaine Harbour from Mr. Daniel Brosnan. At the committee's meeting on 15 July, it was agreed by the committee that the correspondence from the inland fisheries division of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications would be forwarded to the petitioner for comment within 14 days. The recommendation is that the committee refer the petition to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action according to Standing Order 128(2)(b) on actions on petitions and inform the petitioner of same. Is that agreed? Agreed.
No. P00009/23 is a petition on reform of Irish mental health services from Mr. Eoin O’Sullivan. The petitioner requests that, without delay, counselling, psychotherapy and psychological services be deemed an eligible expense for tax relief in line with other health expenses. He states this would reduce costs and gives more people the chance of benefiting from these services. He also requests that the opening of the registers for counsellors and psychotherapists be completed with the urgency this deserves so that clients can have confidence in the services provided. He states that at present anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist and there is no standardisation of qualifications across the different accrediting bodies. He also requests that counselling and psychotherapy services become VAT exempt. He states that while mental health services are recognised as essential services, they are also liable to a VAT levy of 13.5% and that taking care of our mental health is as essential as taking care of our physical health. The petitioner appeared before the committee on 28 September 2023 to discuss his petition. The recommendations are that correspondence from the Department of Finance be forwarded to the petitioner for comment within 14 days; that we write to CORU on No. P00009/23 on the reform of Irish mental health services and on No. P00026/23 on counselling and psychotherapy to ask for an update on the opening of the register; and that we invite CORU to a meeting to discuss both petitions. Is it agreed by the committee that we invite CORU at the earliest opportunity after Christmas to discuss these petitions? Agreed.
No. P00026/23 on equal opportunities for HSE counselling positions is from Ms Áine Daly. The petition relates to the exclusion of the National Association for Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy, NAPCP, members from the eligibility criteria for counselling positions in the HSE. The NAPCP is one of several independent regulatory bodies for counselling and psychotherapy in Ireland. The NAPCP comprises members at every level of the counselling profession, including student, pre-accredited, accredited and supervisor. This is the other petition I referenced earlier with regard to CORU's appearance before the committee at the earliest opportunity. Is that agreed? Agreed.
No. P00035/23 on stopping the Government's proposal to cull 200,000 cows is from Mr. Alfie Hollingsworth. This petition concerns the culling of 200,000 cows to combat climate change and meet the climate deadlines of reducing agriculture emissions by 25% by 2030. The petitioner feels this is a bad and, at the very least, unnecessary idea. The petitioner proposes a number of alternative solutions, including an emphasis on more sustainable farming practices as well as financial assistance to support the move to more sustainable farming. The recommendation is that the petition be referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with Dáil Standing Order 128(2)(b), and to inform the petitioner of this. It was agreed by the committee that this is the appropriate committee for this petition. Is that agreed? Agreed.
No. P00037/23 is on a review of the long-term illness scheme to include all lifelong illnesses and on making medical cards available to all cancer patients and survivors. It is from Ms Katherine Griffin. The petitioner states the long-term Illness scheme, established under section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970, prescribes 16 illnesses to be covered and asks whether the scheme can be reviewed to include all lifelong illnesses. The recommendation is that correspondence from the Department of Health be forwarded to the petitioner for comment within 14 days. Is that agreed? Agreed.
No. P00041/23 is that the Government of Ireland should recognise the state of Palestine and is from Mr. Steven McCullagh. The recommendation is that correspondence from the Department of Foreign Affairs be forwarded to the petitioner for comment within 14 days. After we receive the reply from the petitioner, it may be more appropriate to refer this petition to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. Is that agreed? Agreed.
That concludes our consideration of public petitions this afternoon. I invite members of the public to submit petitions via our online portal, which is available at petitions.oireachtas.ie. A petition may be addressed to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a matter of general public concern or interest or an issue of public policy. Is there any other business or would members like to make any final comments?
