Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am getting used to leaving her in the Gallery so that she will not be disturbing the House. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Yesterday, I got word that a young woman who was living in Labre Park for a while before she moved - she was actually a good friend for the length that she was in Labre Park - passed away by suicide. Thinking of the last number of months, the level of suicides within the Traveller community has gone absolutely through the roof. It was visible for many years, but now it is even more visible, and to see a young woman in her early 30s losing her life through suicide impacts a whole community.I know we could have a Commencement matter for four minutes, which would be important to see where we are with Traveller mental health. The Government put in its programme for Government that it would work with the Traveller community. What the Government did, unfortunately, was to throw money at it but have no implementation, with very little money going to Traveller mental health.

Drug and alcohol use within the Traveller community has gone through the roof. We really need wraparound mental health supports for the Traveller community. It is Traveller Pride Week and if this House could do one thing to celebrate Traveller Pride Week, it would be to have debate on Traveller mental health. Every single one of us in this House has a responsibility to implement health services for all of our communities, including the Traveller community. I refer to Sharing the Vision, but we are not sharing the vision of the Traveller community when it comes to suicide within our community.

I am calling for that debate within the next two weeks, if at all possible, so that Senators from Louth, Kildare, Tullamore or wherever have an opportunity to see what is happening in their areas, to have a conversation with the Minister and to see what we can do to try to save people's lives in the community. It has gone too far.