O’Malley must explain himself or resign
– Minister’s comments on psychiatric services for the young unacceptable
Green Party Health spokesperson John Gormley TD today criticised the Government for its shocking neglect of young people in need of psychiatric services. Deputy Gormley also took to task Tim O’Malley, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, for his recent comments to the media.
Deputy Gormley said: “Minister O’Malley’s performance on RTE’s Prime Time and Morning Ireland programmes left an awful lot to be desired. The Minister was not on top of his brief and was inclined to blame the HSE for shortcomings in the section of the service that is under his control. Deputy O’Malley has ultimate responsibility in this matter, and should be fully accountable to the Dáil and to the general public.
“The Green Party believes that the Minister must now make a full statement to the House on the provision of child and adolescent psychiatric services. He must also be prepared to answer questions from opposition TDs.
“If the Government, or the Minister, refuse to cooperate or make themselves answerable either to the House or the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, then the Green Party would view the minister’s position as untenable,” concluded Deputy Gormley.