Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I wish to speak on two issues. Five years ago I used to visit an elderly man in St. James's Hospital. I have spoken previously on this issue in the Seanad but I did not name the hospital. This evening I will name St. James's Hospital and praise the Minister, Deputy Harney, for the transformation I have seen over these five years. When I first visited the hospital, I could sense it was not clean. When a building is thoroughly clean and washed properly with soap and water and whatever is required, it is clear to see. There is no odour in the air, which is what I found there. When the Minister, Deputy Harney, started the programme on the improved cleansing of hospitals, I did not notice a difference in St. James's Hospital after the first audit. However, by the time of the second audit there was a transformation in the hospital. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Harney, on progress. In my experience of visiting St. James's Hospital over five years I have seen a transformation in the cleanliness. The Acting Chairman, Senator Feargal Quinn, knows as a businessman and food producer how important cleanliness is. It was said earlier how important hygiene is in the area of health. However, as a food producer I know the standard of cleanliness must be 100%.

Although it is not related to patients, the Leader advised me that I could raise the matter of suicide prevention in Ireland. The agreed programme for Government has adopted a target of reducing the rate of suicide by 20% in 2012. The programme says we will implement as a matter of urgency the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to deal with the high levels of suicide in Ireland. I presume our mission is to implement the programme for Government. The programme also says we will implement urgently the recommendations of Reach Out, the Government's national strategy for suicide prevention. I am afraid we will not reach the target of a 20% reduction by 2012 unless we have action locally.

The bottom line is there are 11 positions for the post of suicide officer in the country. The job is to integrate with the local communities and do everything possible to prevent suicides happening in communities. At present there are three vacancies for the position of suicide prevention officers throughout the country, one each in Naas, Bray and Ardee. I will meet with Dr. Doorley next week. The Minister, Deputy Harney, knows the man in question. I spoke to him on the telephone and I want to know when the positions will be filled. I do not care whether there is an embargo on filling positions. I want to know, as a business person, the reason he cannot get three people out of the 100,000 people employed in the Health Service Executive and move them into those positions. I will meet him next week and I told him to have his answer ready. I want to see this happen.