Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Some weeks ago I called for a debate on car insurance as there is evidence to suggest the authenticity of some of the insurance discs is very questionable. This has been noticed because some cars with such discs have been involved in accidents. If that is the number we know about, how many do we not know about? I will not discuss it now but I ask for an early debate on the matter.

The murder of a young man from Offaly by a person who is clearly mentally ill is very worrying, bringing into focus the fact that some people in our community suffer from psychiatric illness and need to be treated in a secure environment, sometimes involuntarily. Senator Norris and others were involved in an Independent motion which discussed inappropriate bed occupancy in psychiatric hospitals, which is another feature we should touch on in debate.

In many cases, people are using psychiatric hospitals, geriatric hospitals or even accident and emergency departments as hostels, which is clearly an abuse of facilities. I have scant details on the people who interviewed this man. If the individual is as ill as it seems, questions must be asked. Was he interviewed by a consultant or an non-consultant hospital doctor? I am sure all the details will come out in the fullness of time, when the debate takes place.