David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I give credit to him for his huge interest in this very important area. Does the Minister of State agree with me that loneliness is a huge issue at the moment among the farming community? Farmers are on their own much of the time during the day. They are under much stress, and many changes in policies are also happening. Much bureaucracy and red tape is coming at farmers with many forms to be filled out and so on. If they get it wrong, then they do not get payments. There is misrepresentation in the media with farmers being blamed for climate change, even though the farmers I met really want to save the environment.

Does the Minister of State agree that these are many of the issues and that there is much worry, stress and anxiety? Can we ensure that when people deal with and work with farmers, they treat them with respect and keep in mind that these issues are out there? As the Minister of State said, more farmers lose their lives through suicide than through farm accidents, which is a really horrific statement when we think about the families and people who are involved. I thank the Minister of State for his work in this area.

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