I think we have all been in emergency rooms. I have yet to be in an emergency room where staff were not dealing with a number of cases where people had particular drug issues and where people had mental health issues. In some cases, it was across the board. That is that unfortunate place where people are Venn diagrammed and it crosses over. The fact is it is not the place for them. It is not the place for others who are there. We have often been there with our children and none of it works, which puts incredible pressure on staff. The Sinn Fein motion put forward by Teachta Clarke is absolutely straightforward. It means that we have adequate staff 24-7, because many of the cases we deal with, particularly psychosis, happen late at night, and that we have an appropriate setting, away from the absolute chaos that is emergency medicine. That is what we need. We have our own particular issues in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and mental health services have spoken to hospital management. Hopefully, and this is not the first time I have brought this up, an arrangement can be made later this year that there will be some sort of 24-7 facility within the hospital for proper assessments. At times, people get sent over to DDOP in Crosslanes and the problem is that is an operating hospital, so people may have to wait a huge length of time and that does not work. The Minister met the group regarding Maxi’s law. We need to see not only community and early interventions but we also need to see emergency beds as we do not have a sufficient number in our area. There are ten beds promised as an extension. That needs to happen in relation to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. We need to see the primary care setting to ensure the community services we have are at least in appropriate accommodation.

Sentiment score: -0.08