The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Tim O'Malley, has been criticised in the Dáil for the second day running, although his work in the area of mental health was defended by the Taoiseach.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked Bertie Ahern if he agreed with Mr O'Malley's claim that some doctors were allowing waiting lists to grow because it made them feel powerful.
Mr Ahern indicated that he did not agree, but went on to say it was 'not unreasonable' for the minister to ask for waiting lists to be validated.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte claimed Mr O'Malley was entirely unsuited to the job, prompting the minister to interrupt to claim he was supported by the majority of doctors in the field.
The Taoiseach said the Opposition had decided to 'have a go' at one or two lines that Tim O'Malley had said, and did not have any real interest in mental health.
Mr Ahern told Green Party leader Trevor Sargent that the Government accepted that everything was not perfect, but had put in place a strategy to deal with problems.
He told opposition TDs it was wrong to say that he or the minister, who has special responsibility for mental health, were not paying total attention to the issue.
