Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and commend her on her work. The welfare of people is important to us as a collective and also individually. The important point all Members can make today is that there is significant investment, but there is a need, as Senator Mullen correctly said, to teach people resilience. In that regard, I ask the Minister of State for her co-operation on the need for the Government to legislate for mental health training in the workplace. I am struck by the fact that we sometimes do not talk about mental health, so I commend Senator Black on her work and on bringing forward the conversation or comhrá on the need for mental health to be prioritised. There is a need for the Government, and I will work with the Minister of State on this, to bring forward legislation to bring mental health training for employees into the workplace. I believe it is essential for the well-being of the workplace. In the context of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and reaching self-actualisation, this would be a key component of our new workplace relations post pandemic.

We know anecdotally about the effects Covid-19 has had on people. The pandemic has highlighted more than ever that we must prioritise promoting and nurturing positive mental health in the workplace. We all have heard stories about what has been happening to people's mental health. I am struck by Glenn Close's great quote: "What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation". We put a value on health and safety in the workplace. I believe we can work to achieve mental health training and bring about better awareness, which will become the norm. We talk about resources. We are putting significant resources into mental health in a variety of ways. However, I ask the Minister of State to speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and the sporting organisations across the country.There is a group of young people aged 17 or 18 years and younger that could train in pods of 15, whether it is for soccer, hurling, football, rugby or whatever sport. We all know of sports complexes that have acres of ground where young people could train safely and kick a ball around to one another. There does not have to be organised matches. Young people are frustrated in this lockdown because they have lost that sense of hope. That vision of playing games in the summer has been taken away from them. Allowing that would not add to the Covid-19 statistics. It would bring about a surge in positive mental health. I see it in my own county and city. There are young people out on the greens where we live kicking a ball and training. They can do that safely in their GAA, soccer or rugby clubs and I ask that consideration be given to that.

This State has spent billions of euro on mental health. We must ensure now that the current challenges we face have a positive impact on people. Linda Poindexter stated: "One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn’t fall apart." As a nation we must learn that we can work together as a collective to help one another. I commend the work of Senator Black and her group. I also commend the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She has an enormous task ahead of her but her passion and personal sincerity will win through, as will that of the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I thank her for being here today.