Vol. 482 No. 3
210 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Health and Children if a charter of rights for psychiatric patients will be included in the proposed mental health legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17863/97]
My Department is currently in the process of introducing new mental health legislation. This legislation will provide greater safeguards to protect the rights of those with mental disorder who need to be detained for treatment and will bring Irish legislation into conformity with international law. The new legislation will provide as promised in the White Paper, A New Mental Health Act, for the appointment of a commissioner of mental health serivces whose function it will be to review the quality of care of patients in our mental health services. The commissioner will also produce a code of practice for the care of mentally-ill patients.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to the publication of a charter of rights for patients of our mental health services but believe that it would be more appropriately introduced at the same time as the other protective measures we are providing for in the new legislation.
