Dr. Matthew Sadlier:

We absolutely agree that suicide is a crisis in this country. Ireland is relatively unusual in having a very high level of young male suicide. There is no one-size-fits-all intervention because there is not one type of suicide or set of problems that leads to it. This has to be a cross-platform intervention, medical, social and other. From the medical perspective, there was a recent study in The Lancet which showed that 24-hour provision of suicide crisis teams in the community setting had reduced the incidence of suicide in certain areas. We are looking for evidence-based interventions in self-harm which have been shown to be effective such as dialectic behavioural therapy being introduced in all community mental health services across the country. A recent study showed that 93% of young male suicides were associated with alcohol. I am not saying alcohol was the only cause, but it certainly was a contributory factor. That leads into our submissions regarding alcohol and minimum pricing. I am being brief because I realise there is a time constraint.

On the NCHD or junior doctor issue, as somebody who worked for 13 years as a junior doctor within the health service, I am amazed that there is a group of workers resorting to industrial action to demand what is actually the law of the land. This issue has been examined since the early 1990s. The Hanly report in 2003 offered a broad range of solutions to the problem, but it continues. It is a shocking indictment of the system that doctors are still working 24, 36 and 48-hour shifts and providing intensive care for patients in a highly complex environment. I know there is an evolving process and that talks are ongoing to reach a solution. A number of solutions have been considered, for example, by the NHS. We have been clear about publishing our proposed solutions to this evolving problem and negotiations are ongoing; therefore, we hope a solution can be found.