VIDEO: Lisa Chambers addresses an almost empty Dáil on mental health cuts

"We have failed to provide the necessary supports to these people and to provide early intervention to prevent mental health issues developing."

Earlier on Tuesday we showed a poorly attended gathering of the Dáil during a discussion on Minister Leo Varadkar's decision to remove €12m from the 2016 mental health budget. While the Minister was in attendance during the early part of the debate, he soon left for discussions on the formation of a new government a full two months after the country went to the polls. Fianna Fáil T.D. Lisa Chambers was one of the few public representatives on hand to make the case for more, not less, money to be set aside for mental health services in Ireland. With this country's suicide rates among the highest in Europe, she makes the point that cuts to this year's budget will have "grave consequences for those struggling with mental health issues and their families."