Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

The issue of suicide does not give me pleasure, nor will it any Member of this House or society. At the coroner's court in Tullamore yesterday, out of the seven deaths considered by the county coroner, five were suicide. It brings into focus the adverse impact this has on society. Few families have not been touched in some way by the cold fingers of suicide.

Are people aware that help is available? The former Midlands Health Board had a helpline which still exists and whose slogan is "Don't Get Down, Get Help". It is a sensitive area and even though everything else has been tried and this House has debated the issue before, we should do so again to establish what we, as parliamentarians, can do to help. Perhaps some positive suggestions might emanate from that debate.

The spiking of drinks is now common practice. Early last Sunday afternoon, I saw a young man take his pint of beer off the counter and into the toilet. This indicates the serious level to which this goes on. I ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has been very proactive in other areas, to come to this House to debate this issue; perhaps some positive suggestions might be made to help stamp out this serious practice.