Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Thursday, 9 May, is Europe Day. Unfortunately, the European Union and the European economy are not emerging from the unprecedented financial and economic crisis. The predictions are that Europe is falling deeper into recession. For the second quarter in a row we are witnessing contractions in some of the main European states, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and unemployment continues to rise. There are 26 million people in Europe unemployed, some 5.7 million of whom are young people. There are also 115 million people under threat and at risk of poverty and social exclusion, with all of the problems and issues this throws up in terms of mortgage distress and the capacity to put the essentials on the food table etc.

Many European citizens believe the response of the European leadership from the outset has lacked urgency and been out of tune with the impact of the crisis on the daily lives of people in terms of their own economic reality. The twin pillars underpinning the creation of the European Union - solidarity and cohesion - have not been as evident in the European leadership's approach to the economic crisis. Some commentators and other distinguished speakers have identified as part of the problem Europe's pursuit of a singular model, in terms of economic orthodoxy, in dealing with the crisis. Despite this, there are different manifestations of the problem in different countries, including different unemployment profiles, and all we are seeing is the pursuit of one model to the exclusion of all others.

This is having a detrimental impact on the capacity of countries across Europe to recover. Does the Taoiseach believe there should be a radical rethink of the economic model Europe is pursuing now and that there is a need for radical economics across the European Union to prevent the divisions that are occurring?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The Deputy sounded like Michael D. He should just keep within the Constitution.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On Deputy Martin's comment that Europe is not emerging from the crisis that has befallen it and that it is falling deeper into recession, he knows something about this from his past experience and what did not happen that might have happened. It is fair to say that around the European Council table very different views are expressed by different Prime Ministers, some elected in different circumstances beholden to a party or a number of parties in minority situations. Many of them are not in a position to give agreement to particular programmes or proposals in that they might not be able to get them through their parliaments.

It is necessary for Europe to follow through on the decision that it makes. We can have all the economic arguments, theories and projections that people like and they might be great fun for economists and those who pursue economic theories, but the problem facing the politician is to make decisions that impact on his or her economies for their betterment and that will lead to job creation and growth. For instance, it is true to say that decisions taken by the European Council in respect of the development of the European Union, both in the eurozone and in the Union, have not been followed through in a number of cases, but many of these are very complex. We discussed previously the question of the setting up of the euro while not having the facilities in place to develop it afterwards and develop the Union as people might have imagined. That is why, for instance, the question of a banking union is now one that is central to the argument that we need this facility to deal with a fundamental crisis issue in Europe, namely, that surrounding the banks and their operations. That is why the single supervisory mechanism has now been agreed in terms of its architecture to take effect next March. That is why the next stage of banking union is bank resolution and that matter is under discussion at the Eurogroup and ECOFIN. The third element of that is a euro-wide guarantee in respect of deposits. That is a complex and technical series of arguments that is being followed through. We would like to see it happen much quicker in the interests of everybody but that is not practically possible. Nor will it happen that we will have a broad range of radical rethinking of where Europe stands now. It is very necessary that European leadership follows through on the decisions it has made and demonstrates to the peoples of the European Union that there is a follow through on decisions made in their interests. As a matter of course, we should follow through on these decisions and not just talk about some alternatives. They come up at every meeting but I think leadership demonstrates to people that Europe is serious about its business - I said that again last night when I along with the Tánaiste got progress on Europe's discussions on the MFF and the deficit for 2012-13 - as opposed to having endless, and I mean endless, arguments about different economic theories that may or may not be relevant. For now Europe has made its decisions and it should follow through on those, and any new policy should be additional to the decisions that have already been made.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The problem is that those policies are not working across Europe. That is the point. They are simply not working. Millions of people across Europe are unemployed and the levels of unemployment across the main European economies are unprecedented. Commentators from the IMF, Paul Krugman, the economist, and other distinguished statespeople have identified part of the problem as simply being that Europe has followed but one model, which essentially is that fiscal consolidation is the route to economic growth across Europe and nothing else, but that it is not working and will not work. When I asked the Taoiseach did he believe there should be a radical rethink, I was not talking about abstract economic theories or anything like that. Clearly, he does not believe there is a need for a radical rethink, rather he believes that existing decisions should simply be followed through on. I put to him that the budget that was just under discussion will for the first time represent a cut at a time when Europe needed some sort of stimulus. The European leaders came together and conspired to cut the European budget, which already is about 1% of GNP across Europe. That made no sense.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The agricultural budget is being cut by 10% for the first time in the lifetime of Common Agricultural Policy. That money cut from that budget would have put funding into rural economies and the wider economy. The youth employment guarantee fund represents about €122 per unemployed young person across Europe. It is not a question of abstract economic theories that people are spinning out. The leaders of Europe should listen to what is being said by fairly informed people in terms of the direction that Europe is taking and the mistakes it has made and continues to make. It is not only one particular model that should be pursued to the exclusion of all other ideas. That is the key point I put to the Taoiseach.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The budget has been cut, the banking union has been delayed and downscaled from what was originally envisaged and there will be no discussions on reforms until the end of next year. I do not get any sense of leadership emerging from Europe. In particular, I believe there needs to be a radical rethink of where Europe is going and how it is going about coming out of this crisis. I ask the Taoiseach to give that serious consideration.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is perfectly entitled to have that viewpoint. I think many people would share his viewpoint that we have to have additional proposals and indicators of what might be helpful to what is happening here. It is true to say that to have 26 million people unemployed in the European Union is astonishing and completely unacceptable. I spoke to the Portuguese Prime Minister when in Portugal last week and I also spoke to Prime Minister of Spain. Some 54% of young people are unemployed, there is no capacity for social welfare after two years, 600,000 people in Portugal are in serious difficulties, with 200,000 house repossessions in Spain. These figures spell out the scale of the challenges those countries face. France is facing a challenging time, Italy has a new government and there are problems in Cyprus and Greece. Of all of these countries, serious decisions were made in Ireland to adjust our programme to deal with our circumstances. Clearly, we are not in a position to borrow any more money. We have made the point as a matter of European policy, and I agree with the IMF on this, that countries that can borrow further moneys should borrow further moneys because that would be good for Irish exports, Irish jobs and jobs in general. I agree that we should strongly pursue the mandate for discussions on free trade between the European Union and the US which, we are told, has a capacity for at least 2 million extra jobs and a potential to grow economies by 2% or 3%. The Deputy knows this. When we sat down with the President of the Commission and the President of the Parliament within two hours we at least got movement on dealing with the deficit for 2012-13 and on the structure and timescale for the multi-annual financial framework or the budget for 2014-20, which includes a €6 billion fund for unemployment and serious moneys for cohesion. The budget was reduced by a decision of the European Council leaders but it was not reduced by anything as much as what some countries were proposing.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It should have been expanded at this time when we are in a recession.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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People made the point very vociferously that every national government was reducing its individual budget in order to get its own circumstances into better shape. Any additional proposals or policies should be in addition to the central decisions made by the European Council. It is really important that people see that the decisions made are followed through, as I said in respect of the decision of 29 June last to break the link between sovereign and bank debt. That means banking union in its three different sectors. One of these is now virtually in place. The second area, bank resolution, is being discussed, and the third deals with deposits and a Europe-wide guarantee. These are central to an efficient European banking system and they are not easy because they are technically complex. That is what European leadership and politics should involve. We would be very happy to hear of anything else that comes along if it is additional to and of benefit to that process.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The most recent statistics indicate that every year more than 800 citizens lose their lives to suicide across this island. Last year the statistic was 525 in this State and 289 in the North; these do not include attempted suicides or people who self-harm. I know the Taoiseach has had personal experience of how this has affected people in this Dáil. Hardly a day goes by in which some family does not have to come to terms with the shock of losing a loved one through suicide.

There is concern that some suicide might be linked to cyberbullying. What steps is the Government taking to curb cyberbullying? We know - and it is to be applauded - that substantial resources have been made available to tackle the carnage on our roads, but now three times as many people die every year by suicide as die on the roads. The model and approach of the Road Safety Authority could be adapted, with the use of a similar authority to tackle the suicide crisis. We need to ensure there is counselling, that there are more resources and that education and information are provided for those in distress and to allow everyone else to recognise the signs so that they can help those who have difficulties in their lives and encourage people to talk.

In budget 2012 the Government told us that €35 million had been ring-fenced for 414 mental health service staff, yet by the end of last year only 62 of those staff were in place. The Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for mental health services, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, said she was appalled by this. When will all the staff be in place, and what happened to the €35 million that was supposed to be ring-fenced for mental health services?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Adams raises an issue that is particularly sensitive for many families and people. It is an issue that Deputy Dan Neville raised in this House for 20 years when he was in opposition. I do not have the actual figures in front of me but as far as I am aware, those who were to be recruited using the moneys voted for recruitment of psychologists and qualified personnel to work in this area have all been recruited but for a few in particular categories that may not be available here and for whom it may be necessary to advertise internationally. I will get the figures on this for Deputy Adams, because I asked for them this morning. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has been heavily involved in all of this work. The commitment of €35 million of ring-fenced moneys was made for this purpose and for a range of activities dealing with community mental health teams in adult and child mental health services.

The Deputy makes a valid point about the difficulty of bullying, particularly cyberbullying, and he is aware that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children held hearings on this and is preparing a report on its impact and how it might be dealt with. The causes of suicide are many and difficult to determine, be they pressure or depression, financial problems, alcohol abuse, relationships or whatever. The tragic result is very difficult for people to understand. As one person said to me some time ago, "For the rest of our lives we will ask: was there something we should have seen? Was there something we should have known? Was there an issue that we should have addressed?" I know from talking to people across the country that there is a great deal of assistance and understanding available for those who find themselves in a pressurised situation in one way or another. The staff that were to be recruited have all been recruited except for a few, and I believe the services have to look to other areas for the categories of speciality they need. I will send the figures to the Deputy.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I look forward to receiving those figures, but by the end of last year only 62 of those 414 staff positions had been filled, which is a huge gap. The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the need for leaders to deliver. This issue is above party politics. I knew of the work of Deputy Neville before I came into the Dáil, when I was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly and worked on this issue. It is a national crisis, and what do we do about a national crisis? We put in place structures and strategies to reduce the crisis. That is why I am advocating the establishment of an authority similar to the RSA. I am not talking about a quango or another tier of bureaucracy but an agency to focus on and educate people, to give information to help them to know the signs and be able to help, and to educate people to talk to someone. This is crucial to dealing with this issue. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree with me when I applaud those in the community and voluntary sector and in charitable organisations, as well as those in the very slimmed-down mental health service who work on this issue. Yesterday 4,000 people took part in a cycle against suicide. All of this work needs back-up. People want to resolve this issue but it needs to be backed up by resources and Government action. The Taoiseach is not sure of the figures and that is fair enough. I am not making a point about that, but can he give a firm commitment on when these 414 mental health staff will be in place? Does he agree that because suicide knows no borders, we need a joined-up, all-island approach to this issue?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do. Sometimes one gets so much paper that one misses the page one should have. I have the numbers here for the 2012 mental health posts: 339 posts were filled, and in 42 cases posts have been accepted but those concerned are awaiting clearance from the Garda vetting unit. There are two positions for which candidates have been accepted and there are 20 that could not be filled in a permanent capacity, 17 of which are psychologist posts at staff grade. It will be necessary to inquire further afield to find persons of suitable experience to take up those positions.

The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, secured €35 million for mental health services staff, the majority of whom are in place. The budget for 2013 allocated a further €35 million, which will include an additional 470 posts. These will be advertised soon.

The intention is to strengthen the community mental health teams. Some will be used for advancing further suicide prevention initiatives and to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in the primary care area, specifically for people with mental health problems. Most of the recommendations in Reach Out, the national strategy for action on suicide prevention, 2005 to 2014, have been implemented such as delivering a general population approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention, using targeted programmes at those who might be in a high-risk category, delivering services to those who have inflicted self-harm and providing support to families and communities bereaved by suicide.

The annual budget for suicide prevention increased in 2012 to €12 million. Of this, €7.1 million was administered by the National Office for Suicide Prevention. The remaining €5 million was available regionally to fund resource officers for suicide prevention and self-harm liaison nurses in accident and emergency departments. A further €1 million was made available for additional mental health funding, bringing the total to €8.1 million, which includes a special programme of measures. I will have these figures forwarded to Deputies.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I commend the Taoiseach on bringing forward the protection of life during pregnancy Bill. It cannot have been an easy task for him, given all the divisions and tensions within the coalition. It has taken some determination on his part to finally start tackling this highly charged and emotive issue, one where four taoisigh before him have failed.

However, the draft Bill provides little reassurance for rape and incest pregnancies or for those women carrying a foetus with fatal foetal abnormalities, such pregnancies that have the potential to destroy the lives of those women who face them. Startling figures were released last week that showed sexual offences rose 50% between 2007 and 2011 but only one in six cases resulting in charges being brought. The media has rightly highlighted several cases recently where a man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman avoided a custodial sentence because he paid her a sum of money. This draft Bill proposed by the Government, however, carries the potential of 14 years imprisonment for a woman, pregnant as a result of rape, who might attempt to have an abortion in Ireland. Does the Taoiseach not think this is warped justice?

The Taoiseach might not be aware of this but 17 women who became pregnant after being raped had abortions last year. Incidents of rape are on the increase and it must be acknowledged only a small number of rapes are reported. However, instead of supporting women who become pregnant as a result of being violated, the Government proposes to penalise them.

The pro-life argument centres on the right to life of the foetus. A woman also has a right not to be raped. If her right is violated and she becomes pregnant as a result, I believe she has a right to end that pregnancy at her discretion. I defy any Member to look a pregnant rape victim in the eye or a woman carrying a baby that is certain to die and tell her that we are more entitled than she is to control her body. We cannot continue to brush these cases under the carpet and pretend they are not happening.

Will the Taoiseach give support to a constitutional referendum to allow for abortion in cases of rape or fatal foetal abnormalities? I am calling on the Taoiseach to let the people, not party politics, to decide this issue.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assure Deputy Halligan that I have absolutely no intention of playing any party politics with a matter as sensitive as this.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I never said the Taoiseach did.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should understand that heads of the Bill approved by the Government last week will be sent to the Oireachtas health committee for hearings to be conducted under the chairmanship of Deputy Buttimer. The Bill is not drafted yet. The Government approved the heads of a Bill and has sent it to the Oireachtas committee at which a discussion will take place on them. After the committee holds its hearings, it will send the heads back to the Government and the Bill will then be drafted and the process of putting it through the Oireachtas - Second, Committee, Report and Final Stages - will then follow.

When Deputy Halligan speaks of warped justice, the Oireachtas has no input in the decisions made by the courts which are completely independent in the way they do their work and the decisions at which they arrive. While people might have a view of the decisions taken by the courts, that is the courts’ independent decision.

We are confined here in what we are doing by the Constitution and, within the Constitution, the law as determined by the Supreme Court. It is within these confines that the heads of this Bill have been approved by the Government and will follow through the process.

This does not involve anything extraneous like what the Deputy mentioned in terms of foetal abnormalities, rape, incest or whatever. The Deputy must remember that the people voted on this in the past. They made their intentions very clear in that the right to travel was given specifically to women. While people may have different views on this, the fact of the matter is that a woman in this Republic can only have access to a termination where there is a real and substantial threat to her life. Within that definition of the threat to her life is the Supreme Court determination of the right to life of the unborn. The circumstances in which this arises are emergency medical risk and the risk from suicidal intent which is a very different issue from suicide ideation.

The Government is focused on dealing with what it has to deal with within the Constitution and within the law. There is no change nor will there be any change in the work that is going on here to that. I hope that clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I want to be very blunt without being offensive. I do not know if the Taoiseach has ever spoken to a woman who has been raped. I have several years ago. She spoke to me about how she felt after being violated, how she was continually showering and washing herself internally. It is inhuman and deeply offensive to tell a woman who has been violated and raped that she must present herself as being suicidal before she can have an abortion in Ireland. With all due respect, the Taoiseach’s answers are those which would have been given 20 or 30 years ago. This is 2013, a year in which hundreds of women are raped and violated.

I am sorry for being blunt but if it were the Taoiseach’s daughter or mother or if it were my daughter, mother or granddaughter who was raped and violated and became pregnant as a result, would we expect her to present herself as being suicidal in order for her to have a termination of her pregnancy? Worse still, would the Taoiseach expect a woman who has been violated to go through nine months of that pregnancy? Then she would probably become suicidal.

I ask everybody to reflect on this. I am not into derogatory remarks or being sensationalist about this particular Bill. This is an important issue as there is a section of women in society who every year are violated.

Some of them become impregnated as a result of that violation and they will still have to travel to England or present themselves as being suicidal. I consider that to be inhuman in 2013.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The answer to the question is "Yes". I have spoken to women who have had abortions. I understand the circumstances they explained, how they were feeling, and what it has meant in terms of the life they have to live. I have also spoken to women who have been raped inside marriage. Last week I attended the launch of a programme on domestic violence which includes short videos produced by Safe Ireland, in which so-called macho men said they take what is theirs by right by domination, force or whatever. These are arguments and issues that can be discussed during the course of the debate on the Bill when it comes back here after it is drafted.

Deputy Halligan raises very important issues that people make choices about, in many cases in circumstances of great duress. It is now 30 years since 1983 and this Administration has agreed unanimously a set of heads for a Bill dealing with what the Constitution now means in terms of the law as determined by the Supreme Court. The Government has set that process in train and I hope the Bill can be enacted before the House rises for the summer. It does not deal with the issues Deputy Halligan raises, and there are a range of other views around the House and throughout the country about what might or might not be done, but in so far as our duty as legislators in a republic is concerned, we must deal with what our Constitution means in terms of the law as set out by the Supreme Court, and that is what we will do.