Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, and other Teachtaí, have been raising these issues regularly and I do not minimise the challenges involved. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, well. Sinn Féin will co-operate with her in dealing with this crucially important issue. In fact, the leasuachtarán of Sinn Féin, an Teachta Mary Lou McDonald, has national responsibility for our mental health and suicide prevention portfolio. I believe firmly that an all-party and all-island approach is required and there should be full co-operation with our colleagues in the North. I have long argued for an all-island suicide prevention strategy and for a campaign similar to that undertaken by the Road Safety Authority. Although the Taoiseach has made positive responses to this over the years, this has yet to be put in place. I commend that approach to the Tánaiste and to the Minister of State.

I welcome the Tánaiste's assertion that mental health services need investment and I look to her to deliver on that. However, I do not accept that the recession played a part in underinvestment. It was Government decisions which led to under investment. In fact, an unfortunate insight into the Government's attitude was the fact that funding which was ring-fenced for mental health was used for other purposes.

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