Dr. Philip Dodd:

I will make a couple of comments, the first of which is on official suicide statistics. The Cental Statistics Office does not gather specific data for any particular group, including the Traveller community, including levels of suicide. On the other hand, we know through our network of HSE research officers in suicide prevention that if there is a cluster of suspected suicides in the Traveller community, for example, the local resource officer for suicide prevention, ROSP, will be in a position to link with local Traveller organisations and statutory agencies to ensure postvention services are put in place as soon as possible, including by fast-tracking affected individuals to mental health services. This is taking place across the country in discreet but important, ways. In addition, the ROSP is cautious in monitoring any local media exposure of suspected clusters of suicide. We know of the concerns associated with inappropriate and sometimes inaccurate reporting of clusters. Unfortunately, it can impact on vulnerable persons and lead to an increased rate of self-harm and suicide.