Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I share the view that we must continue to focus on mental health. Mechanisms must be found to encourage people to speak about their difficulties and have them addressed. One of the key requirements is to persuade them to come forward in order that intervention can take place to avoid single and multiple tragedies such as those which occurred in recent days. Such tragedies have touched all parts of the country in recent years. While debating the issue of mental health is easy, it will be necessary to find a mechanism to get people to talk and seek help, irrespective of what assistance is available thereafter.

A couple of weeks ago, when I raised on the Adjournment the issue of the enlarged partial agreement on sport, EPAS, I was informed that the Government had decided not to prioritise the funding required to allow Ireland to sign the agreement. I have discovered the sum required is €17,800. EPAS, an agreement reached by Council of Europe members, addresses international issues such as health and education through sport. As a member of the Council of Europe, I have been asked to examine the role of international organised crime in sport. A sum of €17,800 is not a large amount to spend to help maintain the integrity of sport, not only in health and education but by combating the global threat posed by organised crime in sport. Large amounts of money are involved in sport and there have been many allegations of match fixing. While I welcome the announcement that Paddy Power will create 500 new jobs, a debate is needed on the threat exchange betting poses to the integrity of sport.