Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Ó Clochartaigh on his new role and wish him the very best in the future and go n-éirí an t-ádh leat.

Senators will recall that last October I asked that a debate be organised about the issue of loneliness and social isolation in Ireland which are some of the greatest public health risks today. In December I formally requested the Government to establish a loneliness task force to tackle the epidemic of loneliness. I did so in this Chamber and also in formal correspondence with An Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and other Ministers. In the interim and in the absence of any response from the Government, I have now formally established a loneliness task force. This task force wants to increase awareness of the issue and to produce a set of recommendations for Government, State agencies and policy makers across the island of Ireland. The loneliness task force will produce a report on what is needed to tackle the epidemic of loneliness on an all-Ireland basis. I am happy to report that the task force will include a range of people from the community and voluntary sectors, including nursing, sport, business, medicine, youth work and psychiatry as well as from various NGOs. Much of the discussion about loneliness and isolation focuses on the elderly but loneliness is now just as prevalent among the young. Suggestions or proposals for the loneliness task force can be made via www.lonelinesstaskforce.com. These will be incorporated into the report which will be published in the coming months. The current extreme weather warnings further highlight the issue of loneliness and social isolation. Mar a deireann an seanfhocal, ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine. Under the shelter of each other, people survive. We are a kind and compassionate society but thousands of people are living lives of quiet desperation and loneliness. I hope the loneliness task force will bring energy and a sense of urgency to this most pressing issue. The discussion around the epidemic of loneliness needs to be turbo-charged. I look forward to bringing the recommendations of the loneliness task force to the House in the coming months.