Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of suicide in Cork which in the past couple of weeks has gripped the city and county. A total of 16 people from a wide variety of backgrounds are suspected to have died by suicide, and I welcome the fact that the Minister is coming to Cork on Friday. It is heartbreaking for communities to lose people aged 18 years, 15, 17, 20 and 44, and I commend the Lord Mayor, Councillor Des Cahill, who is holding a multi-agency forum in Cork city hall on Monday, 5 December to help, alongside the Minister's intervention, to bring about structural support to enable us to eliminate this awful scourge from our society. I commend those involved, particularly Senator Freeman and Pieta House, on the way they have increased therapists in Cork. It is about all of us coming together to work, to educate, to empower, to assist and to end this awful tragedy. For any mental health advocate, be it Bressie, Conor Cusack or an ordinary person, it is good to talk and to engage and there is support there for people who need it. I commend the Minister on her work and I hope there is action in Cork because it has been traumatic and devastating for people.