Mr. Bernard Gloster:

In relation to mental health presentations in emergency departments, the Deputy is quite correct. It is one of the most distressing places for somebody who is distressed. I would never resile from saying that. It is dreadful. It is dreadful for the person, for the people around the person and for the staff. What we have done repeatedly in different regions is try to increase the number of crisis mental health nurses who can come and assist somebody in the emergency department. If the person is a pre-existing mental health patient - I hate using that phrase - he or she can be pulled through faster and channelled to the mental health service, but if the person is a completely new presentation, it is very different.

I will finish on this.

One of the most exciting developments I have seen in the last 15 months is in Ms Broderick's region, where we have a psychiatric nurse and Garda team who go out to distress calls for An Garda Síochána where there is a mental health presentation rather than a crime. The patient is then appropriately redirected and treated. All of those can help. I do not want to take the Deputy's time. I am sorry.