Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all know well that the life of a farmer is a tough one. Farmers work long hours, many work seven days a week, and much of that time is spent working on their own. The HSE recently conducted a survey, on which I compliment it, on farmers' health generally. It conducted a pilot scheme in livestock marts throughout the country. The findings are very worrying. Farmers are more inclined to suffer from stress, social exclusion and isolation. They are also more susceptible to cancer and heart conditions. Clearly, there is help available but, unfortunately, many farmers are unaware of it. It would be very worthwhile to ask the Minister for Health and, at some future point, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House to debate this subject. It is very worrying that the farming community and farmers are susceptible to serious mental and physical health issues. I would welcome it if the Leader organised a debate on this at the earliest opportunity so we can clearly outline to the farming community what benefits and help are available to it and so we can identify shortcomings in the system so that we can rectify them so that help will be available to all members of our farming community who work very hard and put in many hours every day, seven days a week, with much of that time being spent on their own.