Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It would be remiss of me not to share a thought that struck me while Ms McElwee was speaking. Notwithstanding the current protections, I can say we can never have enough protection. During my years as a Member of the Oireachtas, I can recall two cases involving women in specific employments who acknowledged they had experienced an episode of depression in their lives. The outcomes in both cases were wholly unsuitable and the women were most certainly discriminated against. It strikes me every May when I wear the green ribbon aimed at helping to end the stigma associated with mental health issues and encouraging people to speak up that, all too sadly and with relatively recent echoes, these protections are not in place. These cases, one of which involves a woman in State employment, have been a cause of significant concern to me and I have raised the matter at every appropriate level. I am sharing this because I feel compelled to place it on record.