Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the expert group's report. I thank the members of the group for the effort they put into it and for the clarity of the report. I am sure the Leader will try to allocate time for us to have that very robust and proper debate in this House.

I take this opportunity to raise the suicide of young Lara Burns. We have spoken a great deal in this House about young girls taking their lives through suicide. The Minister for Education and Skills has been here on several occasions and I again urge that the work of the working group on bullying, particularly relating to this matter, be expedited as quickly as possible. Members of the House will recall that we committed ourselves to keeping this issue on the agenda by continuing to talk about it. Perhaps the Leader would ensure that we keep that dialogue going with the Minister for Education and Skills so that as soon as the working group has reported we will again consider it. It is a matter of what we will do about this. Doing is what is required, we cannot simply talk about it. Children's lives are being lost. I extend my deep sympathy to Lara's family.