Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I never cease to be amazed at the collective wisdom that exists in this House. I mentioned to a few Senators over the past few days that it is very pleasant to have debates where people feel they are not forced to defend a particular position or promote a particular motion tabled by a party, but can speak from their own experience, research and understanding of life. This debate on men's health has presented such an opportunity. Much of the debate has been very thought-provoking and many constructive proposals have been made. I thank Senators from all sides of the House for the way in which they debated the issue.

Certain issues were raised by a number of Senators. This has been a protracted debate and this is the third day on which we have tried to deal with the issue. Senator Browne argued that policy on men's health should not focus solely on disease but on the wider determinants of health. He called for the introduction of a men's health week in June 2006.

A number of speakers mentioned the high suicide rate in Ireland, which is the second highest among OECD states. However, we now have a dedicated suicide strategy which, when implemented, will address the issue and we will hopefully see a major reduction in the incidence of suicide.

Sudden adult death was also raised during the debate. A report on this issue has been commissioned, which is expected to be published in the near future. Senator Glynn suggested that this debate take place and participated in it. A number of other speakers spoke about the reluctance of men to address their health and their tendency to ignore it. It is sometimes stated that ignorance is bliss but nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to one's health. A small measure of education in this regard would go a long way. It is important that men give their health the attention it deserves.

The emphasis must be on early detection. If a person has a problem, there is no point in him or her ignoring it. Statistics and experience show that there is a far better chance of success and a return to good health and a normal and fulfilling life if problems are identified early and dealt with.

I think today was the third time that Senator Norris attempted to tell us about his experience and it was interesting to hear him share it. He experienced a particular problem during a procedure he was undergoing. As Senator Norris stated, it is a problem that only arises once in every 3,000 cases.

Anybody familiar with Senator Norris would realise that he is not an everyday person and would be regarded by many as one in a million. It is not unusual that he has stood up, produced evidence and shared the experience of his case. He mentioned the necessity for research on prostate health. It is an area that should be considered, and men should be encouraged to check themselves on a more regular basis. Women do so regularly, but men seldom do so. It is important to change this and encourage men to be more aware of their health and the need for regular checks.

Senator Feighan mentioned that prevention is better than cure, and that is true with regard to health. Senator Kate Walsh referred to diabetes and it is important to point out that if people have the courage to go for a simple blood test it can transform their lives. People could then manage the disease reasonably well if they find they have it, and could go on to lead normal lives again. It is important to encourage this.

I appreciate the expertise of Senator Henry in this area and welcome her comments on the matter. With regard to obesity, a task force on the matter has been launched, and a number of recommendations were contained in its report. All of these do not necessarily require large amounts of money to be spent, and many relate to changing lifestyles. We have provided €3 million in the Estimates for this year which will be used to implement a number of the recommendations contained in that report. Senator Minihan discussed a research report entitled Getting Inside Men's Health. It was specifically commissioned to inform the development of men's health policy.

Senators Feeney and Kitt, among others, raised the issue of lifestyle. Lifestyle issues for men, particularly matters such as alcohol, drink-driving, obesity, etc., are important and will be addressed in the men's health policy. We also need to tackle the underlying causes, such as why men continually take risks with their health.

I thank the Members for their very positive and constructive contribution on the issue of men's health. It is reasonable to state that for too long this issue has been confined to the margins. As a result there is much to be done in terms of addressing the grave statistics on men's health that have been put before the House today and on the previous occasions when the issue was discussed. It is readily acknowledged that in the past men's health has not achieved the attention it should have. It is now very much on the agenda of this Government, and the publication of the men's national health policy in the summer with the men's health action plan later this year will represent significant steps in improving men's health.

Many challenges lie ahead in the implementation of the policy, not least the challenge of embracing the diversity within men and that there are many different ways to be a man. It is imperative that men's health is defined outside a narrow biomedical model and embraces a broader social determinants view. This will require a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach for successful implementation. It is incumbent on this policy not just to promote health-affirming changes to men's attitudes and behaviours but to create a supportive environment and strengthen community action towards men's health.

In this respect, effective men's health policy must draw on multiple strategies that target individual behaviours while considering issues at the macro and environmental level. It is important that the policy has a clear timeframe for implementation and a clearly defined means of evaluating outcomes. A great challenge in the years ahead is perhaps the need to strengthen the evidence base on men's health in Ireland and identify what works best in different contexts.

There are major challenges for the development and implementation of the policy but I am confident there is a willingness and commitment from all involved to deal with the issue and ensure we bring about major improvements in men's health for the years to come.