Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I am sure they will pick up on members' frustration about the lack of implementation. Some of us work at the coalface of mental health and deal with families who have lost loved ones to suicide, which is very difficult.

I strongly welcome the terms of reference, particularly in respect of primary prevention, early intervention and positive mental health. Prevention is fantastic. Senator Kelleher's point on working together is a great idea. We should be working together and partnering up in all walks of life in any case. The political parties should also do a little more of this because cross-party approaches are the way forward.

Were the members of the oversight group selected specifically on the basis of the terms of reference? Do they include, for example, specialists in primary prevention, early prevention and the integration of care and delivery systems?

I apologise to members for raising this issue again but I work in the field of addiction. Recently, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, raised the issue of alcohol in the context of child protection. Ireland faces an alcohol crisis. The impact of alcohol misuse on families, particularly children, is devastating, especially in terms of mental health. Is the oversight group considering the issue of children who are reared in homes where there is alcohol misuse and the impact this has on mental health? More than 50% of people who die by suicide have alcohol in their system. We are in a crisis, with three people dying by suicide every day. Alcohol is a depressant which causes severe mental health issues. Every family has someone in their lives who has a problem with alcohol misuse. Is this issue being considered or is the oversight group doing any work involving alcohol misuse?