Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

Like previous speakers, I would welcome a debate on suicide. Some 525 people took their own lives last year, which represented an increase of 7% on the previous year. Approximately 85% of those who died through suicide were young men. As Senator Daly said, it is a scourge on this generation. The mental health area is neglected within the health system. Suicide, in particular, needs to be addressed seriously. I would welcome a debate and some action in that regard.

As a new Senator, I do not wish to be disrespectful when I say that the Order of Business in this House is sometimes anything but businesslike. If we are coming in especially on a Friday, is it useful to have an Order of Business, potentially followed by two or three votes, before we get to the business of the day? If the Minister who is due to speak has to wait outside while we spend half an hour voting, we will not be getting our actual business done. I do not mean to be disrespectful to those who have been in this House for a lot longer than I have. Since I was elected to the Seanad, I have noticed that Senators spend a great deal of time-----