Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Fitzgerald's comments on mental health. It would be wrong of us not to have a debate. When will there be Government action on A Vision for Change and a commitment to funding? Mental health is not just a phrase we can throw about. Many people are under severe pressure. Mental health patients are being moved out into communities and being housed in Dickensian facilities but many other people are under severe pressure predominantly because of bank lending policies and procedures. Senators Feeney and Fitzgerald referred yesterday and today to the number of young and middle aged people on the edge. Many parents have offspring at home and they cannot cope. The Leader should meet the people who are under severe mental health stress and pressure. This was caused primarily by banking institutions and failed Government policy not only regarding the financial services industry but also in the lack of implementation of A Vision for Change, to which lip service has been paid. I applaud the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moloney, for his interview with Marian Finucane. However, we need more than rhetoric. We need implementation and firm financial commitment.

I support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on social partnership. I am a firm advocate of the process and it has never been needed more in the history of the State. Government, Opposition parties, unions, employers and every other pillar should sit down collectively to protect, maintain and create jobs. If this is not done, we will be like Greece. The euro has declined in value and the financial industry across Europe is in turmoil. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment needs to come to the House to discuss social partnership, otherwise the bush fires will become an inferno and we will have to put up the "For Sale" sign.