Budget talk must avoid raising fear, says FG TD

A senior Fine Gael TD has urged politicians to be careful about how they debate issues relating to the budget in order to avoid raising fears unnecessarily.

Jerry Buttimer, chairman of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said TDs of all parties need to use “temperate language” in relation to December’s budget because of the profound effect such discussions could have on people’s mental health.

Mr Buttimer was speaking as he officially opened a forum of the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention in Dublin, held in conjunction with World Suicide Awareness Day.