Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy raised a number of points. He has asked me to account for somebody else's views which I will not do. People are entitled to their views, be they medical practitioners or teachers and I am not going to examine people's views.

The national statistics for suicide show a figure of approximately 400 a year. Recent research shows that the most vulnerable category is single adult males. I am not a medical expert but even those experts differ on this issue. Mental illness, alcohol or other substance abuse, loneliness or loss of societal esteem and dignity, the weather and the time of year, are all put forward as factors. I do not know the answer.

What we can do, and what we have endeavoured to do and what has been pressed for in the House over the past number of years, is to give all the respect, care and help we can to families and relatives, and to try to do something for society in future. This is achieved by means of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and by means of the relevant national, regional and local organisations which receive financial support through the Family Support Agency to support grieving families which deserve all our support and respect.

Social, personal and health education programmes are now compulsory in all schools. They aim to build self-esteem and confidence as a means of suicide prevention among young people. These are constructive initiatives. There has been an increase in the numbers of guidance counsellors in all schools. I commend the attitude of trying to be helpful and caring and the efforts to try to resolve the fears and concerns of people.

I know from the small number of people — too many — whom I have known who committed suicide, in some cases the reason was understandable but in most cases there was no iota of a reason for their actions as there was no obvious reason, motivation or level of stress that should have pushed them to do it. The fact that life is more complicated is part of the reason.

The other issue is that it is no longer a crime and people are not ostracised in their religious communities, or at least not in one of them. People now come forward and families state their reasons. The numbers may always have been high but they may not have been classified as suicides for reasons such as referred to by the Deputy and by me.

The Government's position is to support the important research to identify the problems and identify solutions for the future, to educate young people and to help them by means of guidance counsellors, to support their self-esteem and confidence by means of the compulsory programmes in schools and by means of the Family Support Agency to provide the best possible assistance to grieving families. This is a suitable way for the Government to deal with the issue.

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