Clare's Independent TD has described as "abhorrent", the Government's decision to transfer funds from the mental health budget to shore up other areas in the health service.
Michael Harty insists he was present at last night's Dáil debate on Mental Health, saying he'd hoped to contribute but wasn't given the oportunity to speak.
Anger has been expressed both locally and nationally over the low number of TDs taking part in the debate.
Last night's Dáil debate on Mental Health lasted three and a half hours and reports suggest that only 63 out of the country's 158 TDs took part in some way.
There were 33 speakers in total, none of them from Clare.
Images of a near-empty Dáil chamber during the debate led to uproar on social media.
Independent TD Michael Harty insists he was present, and that he couldn't speak despite wanting to do so.
The debate centred around the decision to divert 12 million euro, roughly a third of the increase in this year's Mental Health Budget, to shore up funding shortfalls in other areas of the Health Service.
Dr Michael Harty has described this decision as "abhorrent" and fears the funding may never be returned.
Clare's Fine Gael TDs were not in attendance at last night's debate.
In a statement to Clare Fm, Joe Carey says he was unable to secure a slot to speak and was monitoring the debate from his office.
While, Deputy Pat Breen says those who didn't have the opportunity to speak will have an opportunity when the matter returns to the Dáil next week.
He insists he has consistently advocated for increased funding for mental health services and hopes more funding will be made available in the future.
It's understood that Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley also failed to attend last night's debate but he has not responded to a request for comment from Clare FM today.
