Human Rights Issues.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2005

Thursday, 27 January 2005

Questions (158)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

157 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the submission made by Amnesty International to the European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health in Helsinki on 12-15 January 2005 calling for the incorporation of international human rights standards protecting the dignity and human rights of persons with mental disorders into the mental health laws and practices of all European states, and their enforcement through rights-based legislation; if, at this meeting, Ireland endorsed a Mental Health Declaration and Action Plan for Europe; and if so, the resulting obligations to change law and practice in this State. [2230/05]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

My limited involvement in this area concerns principally the human rights aspects of persons with mental illness who have committed offences and thus come into contact with the criminal justice system. The Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 contains important new provisions in this respect, including the establishment of a new Mental Health Review Board. The main function of the board will be the regular review of the detention of persons found not guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to be tried. The Bill is awaiting Report Stage in the Seanad.

For the most part, however, the submission to which the Deputy refers deals with matters of primary concern to the Minister for Health and Children in the light of her responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 2001. For the information of the Deputy, I understand that the Minister of State at that Department with special responsibility for mental health was represented at the conference to which he refers, and that Ireland has endorsed both the Mental Health Declaration for Europe and the Mental Health Action Plan for Europe agreed at the conference.