Eileen Flynn (Independent)

There was a debate in this House on mental health two weeks ago. Today, I call for a debate specifically on Traveller mental health. In the past week and a half, I know three members of the Traveller community who have died by suicide. One young girl of 15 years of age passed away through suicide.These are not just numbers; these are real young people in our community who have their whole lives in front of them but feel so worthless within society that they decide to take their lives. We have a mental health crisis in the community. The Minister of State's responsibility for mental health services includes Traveller mental health. I have been in the Seanad five years this month. In that time, not one thing has improved regarding Traveller mental health. Nothing has improved in terms of Traveller accommodation, Traveller health in general or Traveller education. If anything, things are getting worse for the Traveller community. I call for a debate. This is about holding the Government to account for not implementing the health strategy, including mental health, for the Traveller community.

Every single week, we hear of these tragedies. If Members are on social media, they will see them, too. For young children, young people and older people in the community, it is a crisis. If the level of suicide amounted to one in every 11 deaths in the settled community, it would be named a crisis. Within our community, it is a crisis.

I hope my colleagues support my call for a stand-alone debate on the lack of implementation for the Traveller community. Who is to be held accountable?