Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In truth, if everything the Minister of State described was happening on the ground, I would not need to bring forward these proposals. I want to briefly run through some of the initiatives this plan would have financed. They include reform and restructuring of the National Office for Suicide Prevention as an independent office with special status; a ring-fenced budget; performance targets; and an independent employment system in order that it would be free to obtain the required expertise. There would also be a clear interdepartmental input at Government and Secretary General level but not within the bowels of the HSE. It would enhance the size of the office in order that it would have the appropriate staff, as well as a 24 hour helpline. In addition, the number of resource officers would be increased from ten to 60, which is what is required.

All GPs would be adequately resourced. Our survey showed that an incredible number of GPs felt ill-equipped to deal with the suicide crisis. A system of GP practices would be put in place, whereby the prescription of anti-depressant drugs would be checked on a monthly basis, rather than every three to six months.

An out-of-hours social worker emergency service would be established across the country. Such services are not currently available.

The plan would reverse the Government's decision to abolish dedicated guidance counsellors' time allocations in secondary schools, while introducing guidance counsellors in primary schools. That is not about careers but about the availability of counselling and pastoral services, whereby somebody could tap into these teachers as a pastoral resource under the cover of seeking career advice. Mr. Brian Mooney, a commentator and career guidance professional, has said expecting teachers to deal with children's mental health issues daily was akin to expecting passing motorists, instead of paramedics, to deal with road casualties.

The plan would regulate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist by mandatory registration, as well as phasing out advertising and sponsorship of events by alcohol brands. It would consider alcohol and substance abuse a form of self-harm to be treated accordingly. Funding would be increased dramatically for projects aimed at preventing suicide rates from increasing in all sections of society but particularly in high risk groups. Banks would be compelled to provide professional counselling for those at risk of foreclosure or who have already been subject to foreclosure.

All forms of media should be requested to embrace a new approach to the coverage of mental health issues. In fairness, some of this has been happening in terms of the commentary on this difficult issue. This document contains a lot more detail and is available to anybody at any stage.

Our legal advice leads us to believe the EU directive on the structure of alcohol taxation can be tested. In my introductory remarks I said some people would raise this issue and they have. There is a precedent in the case of betting tax. How did we manage to facilitate gamblers on a racecourse but not in a betting shop? As we managed to do this in the past, why can we not do it to save lives? If the Bill were to be accepted on Second Stage, on Committee Stage we could examine the potential of an amendment to the Rates Bill or amend existing excise duties. In that way we could ring-fence moneys within the licensed sector, including pubs, and put it directly into the fund. That would create equality.

We have heard much rhetoric about the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. I would like to provide a few facts. It refers to minimum unit pricing, which the authorities in Scotland tried to introduce. The Scottish Whisky Association appealed the deicison to the Scottish Supreme Court which, in turn, referred it to the European Court of Justice, where nothing will happen for two years. God knows who will be in government when we get to bring forward that Bill, if we have to wait for that decision.

Structured separation will not happen, although we are waiting for the Minister for Justice and Equality to bring forward her proposed consultation paper. It is a proposal to bury alcohol at the back of a shop instead of stuffing it at the front beside the sweets where at present one can buy a case of premium larger for €10.

I do not want to focus too much on the alcohol abuse issue in this debate which is about providing for measures to deal with a difficult societal issue. It is not to beat those who sell alcohol over the head necessarily, although the link with mental health issues is widely accepted. That is a fact. Nothing will happen on minimum unit pricing and nothing will be done to increase funds for the Minister of State. I have mentioned some of the things that can and need to be done. We have learned from our Scottish cousins that if we were to implement some of the measures I have outlined and finance them appropriately, the professionals would be able to begin to peel back the blindfold on the loss of life through suicide. If so, we can win this battle. We could reduce suicide levels by 30% in ten years, but we will not do so. I do not want the Minister of State to be personally upset, but I have heard this speech for 12 years on how well the Government is doing. According to it, we are all brilliant at writing down what needs to be done but not in doing it. I sat on the Government benches and cringed as Government amendments were tabled commending our brilliance in spin and incoherence, instead of highlighting our neglect and inability to show the leadership and political will to do what was necessary. There are challenges within the Bill, but it offers an innovative solution at a time when there is no money available. The EU directive is a red herring. It can and ought to be tested in the interests of saving lives. As we have done it before for others, why can we not do it when it is to save lives? Sadly, in the coming week ten more lives will be lost through suicide, eight of them men. I am bound to say our ambivalence is damning.