Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I join others in calling for a debate about policing. The brutal death of a kind and gentle man, Mr. Eugene Gillespie, in Sligo is a reminder to all of us that life is fragile. Although we can never hold a Minister directly responsible, the way in which police forces or gardaí have assistance and the technology and funding they need is something we must debate. As Senator Noone mentioned, we are becoming increasingly desensitised to the idea of murder but every day the officers on the front line must deal with very serious problems in trying to solve these crimes. In a responsible fashion, this House can have a role in a debate on how to better arm our gardaí in that battle.

I extend my sympathy, as others have, to the family of the young girl who took her life in Dromahair last week. She is one of a number of people who have taken their lives in that area in the past year. There are always circumstances surrounding such a death but it is clear that bullying, and cyber bullying in particular, played a role in this girl's death. The photographs of her would make anybody deeply upset. I ask the Leader to write to the Minister for Education and Skills and ask for two things, one in the short term and one in the long term. In the short term we should ask that he would, through statutory agencies and the 21 education centres which are responsible for schools, find a role to better liaise with parents on an ongoing basis. Many parents find themselves lost in knowing what to do with their children. The process should not be a one-off, knee-jerk response and there should be a consistent effort.

In the longer term, and in the reform of the junior certificate, the subjects of CSPE and SPHE should be taken very seriously as a place in which subjects like this might be brought more easily into the school, in front of teachers and to parents.