Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I asked how much of the €14 billion HSE budget goes to mental health. I asked a few lay people the same question and I got a wide range of answers. A total of €1.1 billion is spent on mental health every year by the HSE, which is a phenomenal amount of money. We have more people in Ireland dying every year from suicide than from road traffic deaths. Can we please finally find out how much is being spent on bringing down the rate of suicide? I was at a fund raising event this morning for one of our councillors, and he told me a businessman died from suicide a couple of weeks ago, having owed a small amount of money.

When I put my name forward for the Senate in 2002, I did not know I would be paid as a Senator. I was very surprised that there was a salary attached to this position. If I am due €2,000 extra for being here for seven years, then I do not want it. I am not here for money. I started my company to create employment, and not to make money.