Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

When we come back in the new year, we should avoid the icebergs but we should open up the throttle a little bit more. It is my fourth term as a Member of the Seanad and it is one of the finest I have seen. There is a lot more to give in this Seanad. Under the stewardship of Senator Cummins, that can be achieved.

Yesterday, I rang an elderly lady to wish her a happy Christmas. I did not want to send her a Christmas card because someone very close to her committed suicide last year. It brought a tear to my eye when she asked me how she could face Christmas. If there is anything we could do in the new year, we should focus on that ghost disease that is out there. It is in all our communities and touches many families. Unfortunately, it is those who are left behind who have to suffer, not alone this Christmas, but maybe for a long time. Perhaps in the new year we could have a holistic debate on this area. Unfortunately, Irish society has traditionally swept this under the carpet. The more open we are, the more we can engage with people, and that would be worth it if we saved only ten lives. The numbers this year are coming close to 700. We have reduced deaths on the roads considerably to fewer than 200 this year. My plea to all Members is that we make some progress in this area. Having regular debates every three or four months might assist people to be aware of and sensitive to the unfortunate issue that is a blight on our society. We are often very selfish, thinking about our property and our money. The greatest negative equity in life is the loss of life.