Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach has caught me unaware. I thank the seven Members for their contributions to the Order of Business and I formally welcome a guest of Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, Mr. Martin Taylor, the director of Dublin Glass which has been in operation for more than 50 years. He is most welcome to the House and I believe that he is still going strong.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of the smear tests. I heard Ms Anne Kelly on "Morning Ireland". The backlog is frustrating and deeply annoying. At one level it is good that women are participating and engaging with the HSE to get the service. The backlog is disappointing and frustrating but the words of Dr. Mary Short that people should not be overly worried or concerned are worth noting and it is important that we do not heighten fear among women, ensure the issue is addressed and there is a proper and accurate reading and allow for the CervicalCheck programme to continue. The Minister is cognisant of the demands.

The Senator also raised the report of the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Healthcare and I commend the members of the committee again. It is worth putting the remarks of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, when he spoke at the relaunch of the redeveloped website www.yourmentalhealth.ie. He spoke about how more and more people are now going online to avail of apps and messaging services in times of crisis and I welcome the fact that €1 billion is being spent by the State on mental health services at a time there has been a reduction in the numbers of people who have died or who are self-harming. That is to be welcomed. Obviously one death or incident is one too many and a compendium of approaches are needed for the issue of mental health. It is important that the National Office for Suicide Prevention is supported and resourced and the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, has also secured €55 million in new development funding, aimed at enhancing community mental health teams for adults and children. I am sure Senator Murnane O'Connor will welcome those new resources, which will go to many key areas of the country, including her town and county of Carlow. It is important that prevention and early intervention are provided to promote recovery in complex and acute cases. I welcome the Minister of State's use of eMental Health and digital technologies along with the fact that he has now introduced a pilot programme for telephone counselling together with a dedicated mental health telephone number and a crisis text service, all of which are important. The worry that we all share is that men accounted for 80% of all suicides last year, according to the CSO figures. That is an extraordinary figure. Part of the work that the joint committee and other organisations in the State are doing is continue to raise awareness. It is important that we encourage people to talk and engage.

As I did yesterday, I commend those involved in the kickboxing club in Carlow and in Kickboxing Ireland on their achievements. Senator Murnane O'Connor is correct that sport generates resilience, unifies and brings much joy and success. It is also good for forming character and I commend all involved in the matter.Yet again Senator Marshall made a fantastic contribution to the Order of Business. I commend him on highlighting the commemorative events last weekend. He is so right. It is important that we commemorate, remember and reflect, as he does in his work here, and as other Members of the Houses are trying to do. It is a question of bringing traditions together not in an adversarial way but to build bridges, to unify and unite. I commend him on that and thank him for that and I commend all involved on the commemoration last weekend in France. I hope, as Senator Marshall said, that in this period of reflection and remembrance that we honour all people and bring both traditions together. It is a question of sharing ideas and, as Senator Marshall said, reflective remembrance and going forward in a positive manner. I commend him on his contribution.

In response to Senator Bacik I will endeavour to have the Minister come to the House. I am not familiar with the case to which she referred but it is important that there is clarity given on individual situations. Yesterday Senators Ardagh and Paddy Burke raised the issue of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, website, which is a different matter but it is all part of the issue of immigration. I will try to get the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House next week or the week after. I am not familiar with the issue of the funding of disability survivors but the Senator might do better to table that as a Commencement matter. It deserves attention.

Senator Leyden raised the issue of Brexit and passports. I commend him on his presentation and briefing last night. Unfortunately, I could not get to the briefing but I heard it was very informative, good and very well attended.