Let’s give the ‘vision team’ a fighting chance

Saturday, March 06, 2010

THE sequence of highly qualified and somewhat jaundiced commentaries (Irish Examiner, March 1/3) did not offer much fair wind to the mental health plans being driven and enacted by minister of state John Moloney.

Your own editorial (March 1), Paul Gilligan (March 1) and Fergus Finlay (March 2) all conform to a reluctant, highly guarded backing for the current projected plans for completion of the Vision for Change.

The darker side of truth somehow seems tempting. Perhaps, it they all had attended the precise laying out of the practical realities in Farmleigh House on March 1, the jaundice mighty have been prevented.

The minister and his "vision team" spelt out the achievements to date, current projects in hand and detailed plans for the next years.

Let’s give the programme a supportive boost rather than the customary Irish begrudgery.

Minister Moloney offers a fresh candour and a real can-do approach that will ultimately yield the transformations yearned for. We do have to be vigilant, but also relieved that, at last, the ball is clearly rolling towards goal.

Jim Cosgrove
Chairperson
Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists
PO Box 4176
Dublin 1

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, March 06, 2010