Government Chief Whip Mary Butler has been urged to withdraw comments about attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism diagnoses, or else resign.
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger made the call on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics saying parents of children with additional needs were enraged by the comments.
The Chief Whip, who also is a Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health, said on Wednesday that an increase in diagnoses of ADHD is leading to an increase in waiting lists for mental health services.
Whaaa…? We get more people who require treatment when we get better at diagnosing populations? I’ma maaahd! Stahp doing dat! Let’s get back to ignoring them, because expanding health care capabilities makes my brain hurt! /s