Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can look at the method of electing Members as part of Seanad reform but, in the meantime, we have a vacancy and another is pending. I am sure there will be bargaining on what will happen in that regard. Perhaps there will not. The people will decide in any event.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of health and the report on waiting times which was released this morning. I am not sure if the Senator heard the response from the HSE on "Morning Ireland". If she had, she would have heard that the headline was not necessarily correct. Government has prioritised investment in child psychological services. I accept that waiting times are unacceptably high. Equally, parents are frustrated. However, let us make the situation quite clear. If one were to listen to the Senator's comments this morning one would think the Government was doing nothing, but the facts - and they are not alternative facts - are that €5 million extra was added to the budget and that 114 assistant psychologists and 20 staff grade psychologists are being recruited. That is being done as we speak.