Dr. Helen McMonagle:

Yes. The stigma around the condition is very pervasive. There is a presumption that the condition is self-inflicted, that the person has had a hand in inflicting this, that sufferers are just alcoholics and difficult clients. We need to consider that the majority of the people in Ireland who drink do so at a harmful level. More than 150,000 Irish people are dependent drinkers and 1.35 million people are harmful drinkers. It is important to note that alcohol dependency is a very big issue in Ireland. In terms of neurological conditions, every life is important regardless of the cause of a person's disability or neurological condition. These conditions must be given emphasis alongside other conditions and in a consistent way.