Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, Deputy Kenny also asked the Minister for State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to clarify his remarks. He did so. The Minister of State congratulated and complimented the programme, most of which I saw last night. In the programme, he outlined the details of what he stated last January and March, that harrowing cases existed where families were subjected to inordinate delays in getting assessment and treatment. He fully accepted that waiting lists are real and many people wait too long for psychiatric services. He also acknowledged the work done by the psychiatric services — so do I — as they work hard. As I stated yesterday, that is why during the past number of years we have trebled the staff resources of consultant psychiatrists.

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