Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is bad enough to have the Minister of State come in and read out a reply but to read out untruths I will not accept. I have a reply to a parliamentary question from the head of procurement, Mr. Jim Curran, who confirmed to me that while the new design for a proposed upgrade is undergoing a review the tender process, the project cannot proceed because funding has yet to be confirmed under the HSE's capital plan for 2019. Is the Minister of State telling me that since this morning the capital plan has been approved?

It was not approved this afternoon during Leaders' Questions. I will not accept mistruths and baloney from any Minister of State but especially from someone who is reading a reply on behalf of someone else's Minister. What the Minister of State read as part of that reply would be a sick joke if it was not so serious. He stated: "One of the strategic priorities for mental health in the HSE national service plan for 2019 is to deliver" [wait for it] "timely, clinically effective and standardised safe mental health services in adherence to statutory requirements". It is not delivered, timely, clinical, effective or standardised.

We have nothing in south Tipperary. It is an appalling vista and there is nothing but a skeleton service. We could not even be given a room in South Tipperary General Hospital where people could go when they have a psychotic attack. Having such a facility would mean that people could be brought to a quieter place rather than be left in an overcrowded and overburdened emergency department. That is a disgrace. I want the Minister of State to withdraw his reply because the service plan was not agreed this afternoon during Leaders' Questions. Unless it was agreed and published over lunch today, he is telling mistruths.

I will not accept that from him or anybody else. I have a reply to a parliamentary question here. The Minister of State thinks that he can peddle as many untruths as he can get away. He will not, however, get away with that in Tipperary. He has no place to hide. It is disgusting and no wonder none of the five Ministers or Ministers of State with responsibility for health would come into the House. It is a downright disgrace on the second last day before the summer holidays for the Government to think that it will get away with treating the people of Tipperary, and especially those who have mental health issues, this way. It is a total abdication of responsibility and the Minister of State does not deserve to be in government. He deserves to be out milking the cows or someplace else on his farm but not giving that kind of diatribe to me and to sick people in Tipperary. I will not accept that. I want the Minister of State to withdraw what he stated. The HSE strategy has not been announced and part of the Minister of State's reply stated that it is.

See this speech in context