Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Nash mentioned psychiatrists. There has been a lot of political and media attention recently regarding the vacancy for an inhouse psychiatrist in the Defence Forces. It must be stressed that there is no delay in referring Defence Forces personnel requiring immediate psychiatric care or assessment. Such cases are referred to the HSE's accident and emergency departments where, if hospitalisation is required, it is provided immediately. For outpatient cases the waiting time for a HSE appointment is approximately three months. In order to provide Defence Forces primary carers with the broadest range of options possible in dealing with the spectrum of cases that present to them, they have also been authorised to refer cases to local external private psychiatrists for outpatient treatment where this is deemed appropriate.

We did seek a psychiatrist but, unfortunately, we were unable to get one because there is a huge demand for psychiatrists. Nobody applied so we had to look at the remuneration and we sent a proposal to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I know that the process has almost concluded and I hope we will have a psychiatrist in place in the very near future. I assure Senators that members of the Defence Forces receive the attention that they require.

Senator Lawlor mentioned the supplementary pension. That is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and I suggest he raises the matter with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe. The issue has nothing to do with the Public Service Pay Commission.

The Jadotville medals is another issue that was raised. On 13 June 2017, the Government committed, as an exceptional step, to award a medal known as An Bonn Jadotville, or the Jadotville Medal, to each member of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, and to the family representatives of deceased members to give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the siege of Jadotville.This specially commissioned medal was procured to give full and due recognition in honour of the courageous actions of these personnel during the siege. The words inscribed on the medals - "cosaint chalma" and "misneach", meaning "valiant defence" and "courage" - were carefully chosen to pay tribute to their actions. I was pleased to present the medals to each member of A Company------