Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last year the Minister for Health made a commitment to establish a permanent mental health committee. The work done and the reports issue very frank and honest and offered solutions. I reiterate how bad the system is. A total of 70 children under the age of 16 years died by suicide last year. They were schoolgoing and the number excludes 17 and 18 year olds who should have been in school. If, tomorrow, 70 children were to die when a school bus overturned on the M8, it would be mentioned in every newspaper. When I see nodding heads here, I become angrier and angrier and I am sure it can be heard in my voice. The days for talking are over. We have to start to take people's lives seriously. The people who have been left behind have been torn asunder. There are no excuses for it. It affects people in schools and sports clubs. It is across the board. I appeal to the Government, for Christ's sake, let us get real and listen to the people affected. We speak about the health service and overspends. Who will staff the services? We cannot even get staff for CAMHS today. It is an absolute disgrace.

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