Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and apologise for missing the presentations, although I have read them and found them very comprehensive. I know we are facing into very difficult times financially, but I wish to move away slightly from that issue. The Chairman and I attended a meeting with a voluntary organisation recently to discuss the upcoming budget. Approximately 85% of the budget of the organisation in question was tied up by the Croke Park agreement. Therefore, if it suffers any reduction, the remaining 15% of its budget will be affected. This is an enormous problem being faced by many organisations today and there is no easy answer in terms of how we deal with it.

At a meeting yesterday with various broadcasters, the issue of negativity in the media, which seems to be a 24-7 phenomenon and which is having a detrimental impact on mental health, was discussed.

One person at the meeting, possibly Deputy Michelle Mulherin, referred to the fact that the general practitioner in her local area is now advising anyone suffering from depression to turn off the radio for five or six weeks because of the level of negativity. I realise the detailed submissions of the deputations are important and this is moving somewhat away from the topic but this is a time when voluntary organisations are making a significant contribution. This small number of people are making a valuable contribution and there is a need for more people to become involved at community level and across the board to mitigate the negativity. I realise some local radio stations are doing good work, trying to help people get back to work and promoting various initiatives at community level. Is there more we can do? Could we use the media to highlight the positive things taking place here rather than the whole focus being on negativity, which is adding to the air of depression everywhere in rural and urban areas. This is especially relevant from a mental health point of view. More and more people are having to avail of services and supports while at the same time the budgets in these areas are being cut. This issue surfaced yesterday at the meeting. It is relevant and we all need to work on it. We are not in this alone. This is the job of every organisation and Department and everyone involved in politics. It is also a job for everyone in the media. I am unsure whether we have engaged with the media on the issue.