Dr. Susan Finnerty:

The Senator is correct that a number of consultants around the country do not have specialist training. As Mr. Farrelly said, we do not agree with that at all. Our view is that it should not happen. On the Maskey report, I am doing a CAMHS review across the country. We are about two thirds of the way through that. The Senator asked whether it is acceptable for the south Kerry team to have somebody from Doha doing clinical sessions and so on. It is not ideal. I know that south Kerry has had tremendous problems trying to get a consultant psychiatrist. The post has been empty since 2016. The service tells us this is the best it can do because it cannot fill the post. If it does not do this, it will not be able to offer any service in south Kerry. I saw the set-up the service has. It is not ideal but it is the best it can be in that situation. That is not the only service that does remote clinical sessions.