Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine for his or her contribution anseo tráthnóna inniu. It has been an interesting debate and I commend Senator Swanick on officially kick-starting it in the Houses in a formal and structured way. We may not realise its significance today, but someday it will be recognised that it was the beginning of an important and exciting journey.

I thank Senators across the House for their sincere contributions and genuine openness on the issue. On the suggestion that there be a Minister for loneliness, I acknowledge that Senator Swanick meant that responsibility could be given to an existing Minister. I had reservations about the Minister of State with responsibility for younger people being automatically tagged with responsibility for loneliness because I thought it might not be the right place for it but we can have that debate later and where the responsibility lands is merely a technicality. I agree with the Senator that it will very much be a whole-of-government approach.

Senator Higgins described the issue of loneliness well. We must consider it as a symptom, but there is also a cause, which is what we must focus on. We must seek more proactive, positive contributions to the debate. I do not think there should be a ministry for loneliness as there is in Britain because it is quite a negative approach to take; rather, there could be a Minister with responsibility for civic connectedness, for example, who might encourage people to join communities. It should be a Minister with responsibility to do something positive. We should not ask people to put up their hands and say they are lonely. He or she could encourage people to be more connected and become a larger part of their community. We must seriously consider how technology can assist us in the matter and I do not mean on Facebook, Twitter or that kind of a basis.

There are many communities but our opportunities to engage and mix are so limited. The creamery and the pub counter have gone, while funerals have changed. I come from a rural background and know that those from an urban background will have had a different experience, but many of the places where we traditionally congregated and met, whether outside the church after mass on a Sunday or wherever else, have changed significantly. In any town or village it is amazing how many people would love to be involved in organisations to get to know people, but they do not know how to start. Every organisation is crying out for volunteers, which is why I say we should ditch the platforms, websites and apps and get involved in the local community. One can find a list of community activities that are available. Such simple steps can go a long way towards progressing the matter, but we must approach it from that side, that is, positively and proactively with civic engagement. Perhaps a Minister with responsibility for civic engagement, connectedness and involvement would be more appropriate language, but that is just a thought I had as I listened to the debate.

As many Senators stated, the debate has been an important beginning. I have noted the comments made and the desire to receive €3 million in funding to give teeth to the recommendations of the task force which have been universally accepted in the House. I thank my officials for their work on the matter.