Suicide threats and financial pressure
Senator Healy Eames urges the Government to treat suicide threats linked to banking pressure with the same seriousness applied in other contexts.
I was struck by the warning the psychiatrist gave that he would write to banks about clients of his who are threatening suicide because of the unrelenting pressure banks are putting on them. As we have learned quite well over the past few months, psychiatrists assess risk. In this House, we have seen how seriously we have taken the risk of suicide. We have taken it so seriously that we believe it warrants abortion. Let us take the threat of suicide very seriously in every context. I ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to apply the same empathy to people under a threat of suicide or at risk of suicide when it comes to the repossession of their family homes, because that, for many, is their complete dignity.
I join my colleagues in congratulating Senator Gilroy on the new book he is launching this evening, A Cry in the Morning. It is always wonderful to write a book. It is not done every day and, therefore, I congratulate the Senator and wish him every success.
The Order Paper suggests the wording for the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad will be very long. Will the Leader confirm what will be on the ballot paper? While an explanation is important, I believe that if the wording is too long, it can serve to confuse and may mean people will decide not to vote at all.