Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I join the Deputy in welcoming the publication on Monday of the "Suicide in Ireland" survey, a helpful and meaningful contribution to the discussion on how to improve suicide prevention measures. As the Deputy knows, a number of measures have been progressed by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, while the National Office for Suicide Prevention has implemented many of the recommendations of the strategy. A special programme of measures to further advance suicide prevention is being developed and I expect that the Minister of State will be glad to share them with the Deputy and the House at the appropriate time.

With regard to the Deputy's suggestion that we might deal with this issue on a North-South basis, I am very keen that we do so.

As the Deputy is aware, there has been quite a degree of co-operation on a North-South basis in health. This is one area that could be developed on a North-South basis and I am sure it is something that the Minister for Health will discuss with the Northern Ireland Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Edwin Poots.

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