Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of the EU Presidency and referred to the invitations extended to our MEPs. This is a good initiative and an ideal opportunity for our MEPs to address the Seanad in their areas of responsibility. That will happen throughout the six months Ireland will hold the Presidency and I hope we will have a very good attendance of Members to question them on their areas of responsibility.

I also intend that we will get more involved in discussing EU directives, an issue addressed in the House on several occasions. Given that we are not going to be provided with staff from the Houses of the Oireachtas, I am looking for the co-operation of all groups in order that we can pick out and work on some EU directives and report back to the House on the details. As we will have to deal with them from within our own resources, I am sure I will have the full support of all Members in that regard.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also raised the question of the property tax. Senator Paul Coghlan responded that Revenue would issue guidelines. As it is certainly an issue and it is likely there will be problems, we will have the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, or the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, in the House at a later stage to address the issue.

Senator Ivana Bacik continued the call made yesterday for a debate on sentencing. We will try to arrange it.

Senator Feargal Quinn, supported by Senator Colm Burke, raised the issue of the wastage of paper, with particular reference to the possibility of accessing medical records. As Senator Feargal Quinn mentioned, the potential savings are enormous.

Senators Feargal Quinn, Michael Comiskey and Susan O'Keeffe raised the question of positions not being filled on the board of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. I will certainly make inquiries of the Minister as to when these positions will be filled. I am very surprised that they have not been filled, given that they were advertised almost 12 months ago. I will come back to the House on the issue.

Senators Cáit Keane and David Norris, among a number of others, raised the question of suicide, with specific reference to the Men's Health Forum in Ireland all-Ireland report, published today, Young Men and Suicide, which finds that suicide is a major cause of death among young males on the island. One of its key findings is that there can be no quick-fix solutions in tackling the extensive and complex causes and risk factors underpinning the statistics for young men because the causes and risk factors are so diverse and intersecting. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self-harm is a priority for the Government which is taking action, despite what some Members said. Reach Out, the national strategy for action on the issue of suicide prevention, recognises the youth as a high risk group and outlines a number of specific actions to be taken. Consequently, the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention has developed a wide range of initiatives aimed specifically at supporting young people who are suicidal and also at supporting their peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. A wide range of awareness and training programmes are available to deal with issues to do with mental health and suicide prevention. These include SafeTALK to train participants to become more alert to the possibility of suicide in their community and other training programmes such as Reach Out, ASIST, Taking Control, MindOut and STOP Suicide. The Government is working on a number of aspects, while the Departments of Health and Education and Skills have been working closely with the HSE and the National Office for Suicide Prevention to develop guidelines for mental health promotion and suicide prevention in post-primary schools. These guidelines which have recently been finalised are based on national and international evidence and best practice and adopt a comprehensive and whole-school approach to mental health and well-being. It is proposed that they will be launched in the very near future. When they are introduced, we can perhaps arrange a debate to coincide with their introduction. I take on board what several Members have said and we will have a debate on the issue as soon as the guidelines are outlined.

Senators John Gilroy and David Cullinane spoke about the rights of employees. I certainly agree that employees should receive their full entitlements and be treated with decency and respect, particularly when they are losing their jobs. If there is a need for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, to tighten legislation in this regard, it should be done. I will certainly invite him to the House to discuss the rights of employees and employment law.

Senator Michael Comiskey and several other Senators mentioned the plight of elderly people living in rural areas, the need for further rural transport services and communities to come together to assist the people concerned. While I cannot condone drink driving under any circumstance, I certainly agree that communities and many publicans throughout the country have provided transport for pub customers. However, there is a further need for communities to get together to help those who do not have the means of getting to other community activities, given that the pub is not the only outlet for community activities in such areas.

Senator Lorraine Higgins referred to the issue of HMV vouchers. I am glad that she has acted on behalf of the many people who have such vouchers, including me. If there is a breach of the criminal code, I am sure it will be highlighted by the Senator.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of savings with specific reference to the waste of paper. The Senator also mentioned the need for a public education programme though the Irish Cancer Society and the HSE to highlight cancer figures, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Senator Marc MacSharry called for a debate on the issues of suicide and debt forgiveness. Senator John Kelly raised the question of the cost of the new cystic fibrosis drug which is one that could be tabled for discussion on the Adjournment in order to obtain the details from the Minister.

Senator Michael D'Arcy spoke about the very serious problem of bullying, particularly cyber bullying. I am aware of the specific case mentioned by him, which was appalling. There is definitely a need for proper regulation in this area.

I will invite the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to come to the House to address that problem. We had a previous debate on cyber-abuse but we should have a further debate on it.

Senator Landy raised the issue of road safety. Other Members mentioned the new licence. I suggest Senator Landy write to the Minister and I am sure he will get answers to the detailed questions he raised. If that is not successful, he could table a matter on the Adjournment.

Senator Sheahan raised the issue of bank charges and the fact that they are hindering the setting up of small businesses at a time when we should be incentivising small and medium-sized enterprises to expand. I will certainly bring the matter and the Senator's comments to the attention of the Minister for Finance.