James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

If I heard her correctly, the Minister of State indicated that adequate resources would be available to the HSE in order to allow it to monitor the position. That would not surprise me. Like Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, I have no faith in the HSE ensuring that adequate services are provided. In addition, I have no faith in the Minister for Health and Children who, as was the case with cervical vaccinations, cystic fibrosis facilities, etc., gives and takes away at the same time.

I do not accept the Minister of State's contention that a multidisciplinary team will act as a guard against standards changing. There has been much experience of this in the UK. In that jurisdiction, if a health authority has facilities relating to, for example, autism, there will be a much higher diagnostic incidence of autism. Among health authorities which lack such facilities, the incidence drops considerably. This is due to the fact that if a child is diagnosed with autism, he or she must be facilitated by a neighbouring health authority. In addition, his or her care must be paid for by his or her local health authority.

Unless, as the amendment suggests, an assessment process that will be independent of the HSE is put in place, there will not be a safeguard in place in respect of patients. As a result, I oppose the relevant provision in the Bill.

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