Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)

I take the opportunity to welcome the allocation of €35 million, as promised in the programme for Government, for the development of mental health services. It is very important that of that €35 million, €4 million is being ringfenced for suicide prevention measures and suicide research, as well as for postvention suicide bereavement groups, to develop an understanding of what happens in regard to the 600 people who die by suicide every year and the 70,000 who attempt to commit suicide and self-harm.

Given the high proportion of tranquilisers used in self-harm, the approach the Minister of State has outlined is welcome. I reiterate what he said that the Irish Medicines Board has strongly advised consumers not to purchase medicines from unauthorised sources, as there can be no guarantee they are genuine or safe. Some of them have been shown to contain too little or too much of the active ingredient, while others contain the wrong active ingredient. As a result, there is a real danger that they will damage the health of those who use them.

Furthermore, criminal networks are behind many of the activities related to the online sale of counterfeit medicines. Therefore, purchasers may be exposing themselves to potential credit card fraud and identity theft in giving their personal details on websites which medicines for purchase. The availability of minor tranquilisers for purchase needs to be examined and dealt with.

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