John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Certainly. The Reach Out document does not contain a list of named agencies with responsibility for implementation or outcomes nor does it contain any timeframe for completion of the outcomes. That is not a criticism of the National Office for Suicide Prevention but rather of us as politicians.

The Health Research Board published a document entitled Document No. 7 which included a rather depressing and dispiriting statement. It stated that when it comes to basing our policies on empirical evidence or basing it on political expediency, political expediency always wins out.

I hope all these issues will be addressed in the national framework. I acknowledge that my view that suicide prevention should be moved away from its connection with mental health services may seem counter-intuitive but hopefully it will create a debate.

I will speak again to the stakeholders and include more national organisations. I will amend this paper accordingly to include some of the suggestions made at this meeting. I will attach the deliberations of this committee and the evidence of the witnesses to an amended document which will be circulated for further public consultation. I hope the committee will oblige me in a few months' time by giving time to discuss the final report. I thank the witnesses for their attendance. I am very impressed with the level of thinking, which is excellent and very hopeful for the future.