Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

All our hearts sank when the state of the mental health services was shown in black and white and staff morale. It was shocking. The narrative is that the neoliberal agenda has done terrible damage to the health service in Ireland and the front-line staff, like us, have to pick up the pieces. The witnesses say that the failure to provide adequate counselling and psychotherapeutic and occupational therapist services in support and primary care can lead to an over-reliance on drug therapy. There is an over-reliance on anti-depressants. The number of people who come into my office and say they are on anti-depressants is incredible. I am sure they are telling the truth. There is an over-reliance on opiates as well. Can Dr. Sadlier comment on that and on drugs, particularly for children and particularly ritalin?

I have one last question which is probably not relevant to this debate and Dr. Sadlier does not have to answer it but Deputy Harty and I have had major debates on this issue. Could he comment on the present debate about the use of medical cannabis in Ireland?