Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of housing should not be politicised. It is one on which we all collectively must put forward solutions and ideas in order to build more houses and give people a roof over their heads. That is why the Government committed €2.4 billion on housing spend in the budget. Up to €146 million will be spent on homelessness and €310 million on affordable housing provision.

Today is World Mental Health Day. I commend the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle for hosting an important meeting this morning on mindfulness. Senator Swanick spoke about resilience. He is correct that it is about giving people the tools and empowering them to be able to deal with issues which affect their lives. In this regard, this morning's meeting with Chris Ruane MP was important. I thank Deputy Catherine Martin, the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach for organising it.

Mental health is an important issue. The Central Statistics Office, CSO, published figures last week which showed men accounted for the majority of the 392 deaths from suicide in 2017. Thankfully, it is a downward trajectory. While we have the tenth lowest rate of the 33 European countries, one person who dies from suicide is one too many. The extra money found in the budget must be put in place not to pay for the rising cost of wages but to put in place mental health services for young and older people. The €1 billion for the mental health budget is a significant amount of money. As the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, said yesterday, it is no longer the Cinderella of the health service. There is a compendium of parts to the jigsaw which we must all put in place to ensure the issue of mental health is not stigmatised or forgotten. Members must show leadership. I hope today's mindfulness seminar will be the beginning of a new programme in this House. Yesterday's announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is significant. I hope we will see spend continuing on the mental health budget.

Senator Marshall made a fine contribution on the issue of the loneliness of the self-employed and the importance of taking care of this sector. That is why the Government announced measures to deal with this in yesterday's budget. Agriculture, particularly in a Brexit scenario, is critical. Senator Marshall welcomed the increase of €56 million in funding to agriculture and the restoration of ANCs. It is important to welcome in the context of climate change the €20 million funding for the new beef environmental efficiency pilot scheme which is on the way. This will have a significant role to play.

I know Senator Humphreys can feign his-----