Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)

At this evening's meeting of the committee on agriculture, various farm bodies will attend to discuss farm safety, mental health and farmers' mental health and well-being. In previous years in the Seanad there were statements on farm safety during Farm Safety Week. I do not know what has moved but last year and again this year Farm Safety Week has fallen during our summer recess. It is a missed opportunity so with that in mind I ask the Leader to include Seanad statements on farm safety in the autumn that, albeit they would not be during Farm Safety Week.

I warmly welcomed the announcement in recent weeks by the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, that 40 farm safety and well-being projects throughout the country will be funded to the tune of €1.68 million. We cannot stress enough the importance of safety awareness on farms, especially during the summer months. That Farm Safety Week falls during the recess - from 21 July to 25 July - is probably a missed opportunity in that we will not get the opportunity to highlight the issue. With that in mind, I plead with Senators who are able to do so to share on social media as much as possible of the coverage of Farm Safety Week from the very dedicated organisations that cover farming matters. It would be greatly appreciated. The big solution to what is a major problem is awareness, so a simple share on social media could save a life. I plead with Members because the Seanad is not sitting that week - I am saying this for the third time - and therefore we cannot have statements. A little share on social media of all the good stuff on farm safety that will be put up would be greatly appreciated.