Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo the sentiments expressed about the television licence. I am aware of a number of cases recently where people were sent to jail but were out again in an hour. It is not a good sign and certainly does not give the system any credibility. In conjunction with a new television licence system and structure, there should be a change in the legislation relating to the sentencing of people who fail to pay.

The carbon tax and energy efficiency were mentioned earlier. I agree with Senator Quinn. The Government should seriously consider a grant aid system to encourage businesses to install more energy efficient electrical items and so forth.

However, my main purpose in rising to speak is to pay tribute to the more than 40,000 people who participated in the Darkness into Light walk in aid of Pieta House last Friday night and Saturday morning. Indeed, I joined almost 2,500 people in Ennis for the walk. The walk provides vital funding for Pieta House and its campaign against suicide. Prior to the commencement of the walk, a letter from the founder of Pieta House, Joan Freeman, was read out in which she made certain commitments, among them that Pieta House would open more centres to ensure the organisation can play its part in dealing with the devastation suicide is causing in this country. She also gave a commitment that she would not rest until the Government dealt seriously with the issue of suicide, to such a degree that Ireland can become a place to which the rest of the world might look for hope in respect of mental health and dealing with suicide. I commend what the Government has done in this area already, but a great deal more must be done. As has been regularly pointed out, there are many more deaths from suicide in this country than from car accidents. Indeed, some colleagues in the House, particularly Senator Gilroy, are doing great work in this area. There must be a rolling debate, as Senator Norris described it, on suicide and mental health. Perhaps the Leader will consider that in due course.