Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Sinn Féin motion. The only question is what will change. In recent weeks we have been at meetings on mental health with the Minister. The HSE officials basically told us that they do what they want and they bring whoever they wish to a meeting. What are we going to do? Are we going to bring in legislative change that will make people accountable?

The first job for the new person over the HSE is to tear the executive apart. We cannot make something that is wrong right, no matter how hard we try, if it keeps failing the people. I believe we need to start. No one should be appointed full-time. People should only be appointed on an acting basis. Then, if they are not doing the job, the simple fact should be that they will not be left there.

I have seen the Minister come out and apologise several times. Yet, the Minister is well aware of other matters. We have this cervical problem but the Minister is aware of the problem with mental health services as well. He is aware of 14 operations that people have had in Galway. Tomás Coleman is well-known and has been on every radio station. The Minister is aware that he has young children and has been left lying on the floor but nothing has been done. The HSE does not give a damn about people like that. In years to come, the aforementioned 14 people will probably go to the courts. The Minister will have to apologise and say sorry about it. Apologies or whatever are no good to the people who have died. We have to decide whether we are going to take the power back or allow ourselves to be given the two fingers by the HSE. That is what we are being given right around this floor. It is an elephant out of control. If it is not reined in, then neither this motion nor any other motion on any given week are of any use. We have crisis after crisis and we come to the Chamber and talk in debates on motions but nothing changes, no one gets fired and nothing happens. We simply roll on to the next problem. That needs to start changing or the people of Ireland will not put up with it.

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