Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In light of the fine contribution made this morning by Senator O'Donnell on the banking situation - few people in this House would disagree with her - it would be highly appropriate to have a major debate in this House on the banking system, post-bailout. We should also include in such a debate the new mortgage limits announced this morning. It would be timely and appropriate to have that debate. Members of the business community, whom I meet regularly, tell me they are being treated with absolute contempt and disdain by the banking system.

The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, should attend the House for a debate on mental health issues. I am repeating the call for such a debate because of a letter I received today from Councillor Liam Brazil in County Waterford. He has written quite openly about the fact that his family has been impacted by suicide. He pointed out, as we know, that over 600 people commit suicide in this country every year. Those are the numbers that are reported but there are possibly a further 150 to 200 cases that go unreported as death by suicide.

Some years ago we had a major crisis with road deaths reaching 450 per annum. The Government and the NRA put in place a road safety campaign that has thankfully reduced those numbers to 225 last year, although that is still much too high. We need to put mental health at the centre of our health system and must aggressively address the suicide issue. There is no more significant issue for the House to discuss than suicide levels. As the matter is impacting upon so many families and communities throughout the country, I ask the Leader to put suicide at the top of the list for the Seanad's consultation process. We should invite groups working in that area, as well as the families affected, to make contributions here. For once and for all, we need to put in train a plan to address this issue as a matter of urgency.