Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the contributors to the debate. I am struck by their passion which reflects the feeling on the ground about suicide and its prevention. I agree with Senator Cummins that we should have more time for the debate. If the House wishes to have the debate in the future, I would be pleased to return.

While my brief encompasses disability and mental health I have priorities. I am targeting suicide prevention in the mental health area. Suicide is a multi-factoral problem for which there is neither a simple cause nor answer. I have noted the points made by each speaker but wish to deal with them globally first.

The Government has adopted A Vision for Change as policy but speakers are right to say that its rate of implementation is slow. That is why my predecessor set up an implementation body to assess its progress and report annually. The first report was published last May. I recently met the chairperson of the implementation body, Dr. Ruth Barrington. The next report is not due until January 2008 but I may not receive it before April or May. That is too long to wait and I have asked the chairperson to furnish an interim report. This is an issue on which we must all push for progress under the terms of A Vision for Change. I will be delighted to discuss the interim report with Senators.

There has long been a stigma attached to mental health and silence about suicide. When I was a general practitioner, my colleagues and I noticed that suicide was swept under the carpet. I was pleased to launch the mental health awareness campaign two weeks ago. This aims to make the community aware that we all have mental health and must not discuss it only in negative terms. Most of the time most of us have positive mental health, but unfortunately for some people it is negative. Research shows quite conclusively that if when people feel down or blue they are prepared to talk to their friends, family or workmates it will help their overall situation.

The Internet is a problem. Many of the sites are provided from outside the country and there are issues in international law. I am hoping to meet some of the service providers in the near future, but they are service providers in this country. Most, if not all, of them are very responsible and we will be looking to them for help in solving this problem. However, when it comes from outside the country, there are obviously issues that we might not be able to ease, but we will work on them.

Some speakers also referred to the issue of funding, to which there are two aspects. The first is related to suicide prevention. The National Office for Suicide Prevention was established in 2005. Its budget for 2007 is approximately €8 million, which is roughly a 30% increase on 2006, itself a 25% increase on 2005. I would love if more money were allocated for suicide prevention and when the new budget is announced next December, I hope that will happen, but that is dependent on the Minister for Finance and the Government.

The second aspect relates to mental health in general. One speaker made the point that the percentage spend on mental health has been reduced. That is true but it must be considered in the context of the amount of money that was being spent specifically on mental health. The money spent in 2007 is close to €1 billion, which is an enormous amount of money compared with the amount spent in 1997.

Senator Prendergast referred to a community support officer, which is a very interesting idea which I would be happy to discuss in more depth with the Senator. Senator McFadden referred to the course in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, or ASIST. I congratulate her on taking this excellent two-day course, which is part of the Reach Out programme and organised by the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

I cannot solve the problem of suicide here today — neither can Members — but everybody in Ireland working together can help reduce the rate. Reference was made to the actual rate. I agree the official rate probably does not reflect the true figure. Unfortunately, deaths were recorded with the term causes unknown or other causes, which is not a true reflection. I am committed to doing my part and I will be very happy if we reach the Government target of a 5% reduction in the suicide rate by 2010. That is a huge challenge and I would love to see it bettered.

I thank Members who have contributed and the House for affording me the opportunity to speak today.