Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the programme for Government and the commitment towards mental health community teams, the health committee was told recently that only 60% of the 114 mental health teams have a seven day service. This is where I have an issue with the Minister, Deputy Harris, and Mr. Tony O'Brien. That is only one of the terrible things going on with the HSE. A 14 year old girl has been languishing for the past ten weeks in a paediatric ward in Clonmel hospital.

Is the Taoiseach going to continue to save Mr. O'Brien and the Minister, Deputy Harris? In terms of the paragraph the Taoiseach read out earlier, the Minister, Deputy Harris, is nothing but a puppet for the HSE. He signed off on that letter to allow this man go off to an American company. He is already on a salary from the HSE of €192,000 a year. I want the Taoisech, in the interests of the women and children of Ireland, and the mental health of the people of Ireland, to immediately dispose of the services of the Minister, Deputy Harris, and Mr. O'Brien. It must be remembered that Mr. O'Brien had a track record of deceit with the Irish Family Planning Association and what he did there before he ever came into the HSE. There was no investigation of that, and the Taoiseach was the Minister for Health at that time. Both of them have to go, not one or the other but the two of them in unison. If the Taoiseach has a shred of credibility or respect for the women and children in this country, the Minister, Deputy Harris, and Mr. O'Brien have to be sacked.

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