Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

For the past two years the north inner city has been without any drugs and alcohol task force. For those two years the HSE has consistently and wrongly claimed the task force acted outside of its remit or beyond its powers in its appointment of its new chairperson. The HSE and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, issued a statement yesterday that they will reconstitute the drug task force. There was no consultation with the local group. The statement goes on to say the HSE will recruit and appoint a new chairperson. The behaviour of the HSE in this episode has been quite disgraceful. I have raised this previously with the Taoiseach. I raised it with his predecessor, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he was Taoiseach. I have raised it with countless Ministers. I ask that the Minister for Health comes before the House and makes a statement on this matter.

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