Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I have managed most things since I have been here but being in two places at one time is not something I have managed. I thank the witnesses for their contributions and opening statements, which were well worth listening to, and the debate with Deputy Hourigan there was brilliant to hear as well. My background is that I have worked for years in addiction services as a key worker. I managed services and worked as an addiction counsellor for numerous years and I was the director of the Clondalkin drug and alcohol task force, so I have a lot of experience in this and a lot of passion about addiction among people with mental health issues and about dual diagnosis in particular.

I will start with a dual diagnosis question. What comes first; the chicken or the egg? Does the addiction come first or does the mental health issue? Drugs can often give calm and a sense of peace to an anxious person. They work for a certain time until they become a problem as well. People call it getting out of their heads because people want to get away from the reality they are living in and self-medication is one of the ways that people will do that, unfortunately. What supports does the Tabor Group offer to people with dual diagnosis?

The witnesses from FASN mentioned accident and emergency departments. I agree 100% that accident and emergency is not the place for anybody with mental health or addiction issues. The hospital closest to me is Tallaght Hospital, where there is a 20-hour wait for accident and emergency. If someone has a physical issue that is fine but if someone has a mental health issue or addiction issues, the wait of 20 hours for treatment is barbaric. What would the witnesses like to see instead of that kind of system for people with mental health and addiction issues? What would work for out-of-hours? As we know, mental health and addiction issues do not just happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. They can happen any time of the week.