Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion tabled by the Independent Deputies. It calls on the Government to develop an effective, strategic action plan for the prevention and reduction of suicide and to implement it as a national priority.

I listened to many speakers on this motion and the subject has been treated sensitively. We are talking about people's pain, the devastation of families and the shock and incomprehension of communities. We tread lightly because we do not want to add to that pain. The discussion is not political in the sense of scoring points. It is, however, political in that a meaningful political response is urgently needed. So far the response has been woefully inadequate.

I call on the Minister of State to withdraw the amendment, particularly in light of the statement made by Deputy Gregory today. Most of the amendment is meaningless. The basic facilities to assist those who need our help are not in place. The answering machines at the end of helplines that give opening hours of 9 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. confirm that the response of the Government to the suicide issue is totally inadequate. The Minister of State should do the decent thing and withdraw this empty amendment.

I attended a seminar on suicide recently in Dromahair in County Leitrim organised by recently bereaved families. I commend those who organised it for making the effort to raise awareness, to inform the public and to destigmatise suicide. Similar seminars have been held throughout the State; I know of two recently in County Monaghan. Meetings have been crowded with people who are genuinely concerned. There is a desire on the part of the public for information and help.

This Government is failing to give the help that is so badly needed. Many speakers referred to the cut in the mental health budget. Last week I went to see the new Clarion Hotel in Sligo which was formerly the old mental hospital, St. Columba's. When St. Columba's was closed a number of years ago people were glad but the money was not re-invested in community services and it is not being invested in support services for those concerned about and those at risk of suicide.

Politicians cannot solve all of society's problems and this issue is wider than resources and services. The responsibility of the Government, however, is to implement immediately the 86 recommendations of the 1998 report of the National Task Force on Suicide, as we have asked in the motion.

This is a difficult issue and there are no easy answers, quick fix solutions or guarantees we will get things right but the research has been done here and in other countries. The reports have been written and there is no excuse for inaction. A document was published in the last few days entitled "The Health of Irish Students". When will its recommendations be put in place or will it simply be put on the shelf on top of the pile that is there already?

We have all the information we need, we now need action. We need suicide prevention programmes in schools, colleges, health centres and community centres and we need suicide awareness programmes. Most people are aware of the symptoms and signs of meningitis due to an excellent information campaign. We need the same level of awareness about suicide. Early detection and treatment lead to better outcomes.

My colleagues have quoted the different models across the world, with Deputy Connolly mentioning the German model that showed a reduction of 26% in self-harm incidence, and the Australian and Canadian models, with reductions of up to a third in self harm. Experience in other countries has shown action can work and we need as a matter of urgency to put such projects in place on a nationwide basis and not just as pilot programmes to protect all citizens who are at risk. We must increase the mental health budget and adequately resource the primary care system so it can respond to those who need help.

If the Minister of State will not accept the motion today, we ask him to implement the recommendations in it. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, listed actions being taken by the Government to address the suicide issue but they are not working, they are wholly inadequate and we ask the Government to develop an effective strategic action plan for the prevention and reduction of suicide and to implement it as a national priority.

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