Alcohol levy call in suicide battle

A levy on all alcohol sold in supermarkets and off-licences should be imposed to raise €200m a year for suicide prevention services, Fianna Fáil Senator Marc Mac Sharry has urged.

The party’s mental health spokesperson will move a Bill in the Seanad tomorrow which includes the measure, and would also force banks to provide counselling for people in bad mortgage debt.

Mr Mac Sharry said the levy was needed because mental health services had been badly hit by cuts.

“The Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Fund Bill 2014 will, if enacted, provide the necessary resources to reduce loss of life through suicide by 30% in 10 years,” he said.

The Bill also calls for the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) to be put on an independent footing, and the creation of a national 24 hour help-line.

The alcohol levy would also pay for out-of-hours emergency social worker teams across all of Ireland.