Joint Committee on Health meets to discuss issues relating to the priorities and concerns in the context of the Mental Health Bill 2024

The Committee will discuss issues relating to the priorities and concerns in the context of the Mental Health Bill 2024 with:

·       An Garda Síochána

o   Ms Paula Hilman, Assistant Commissioner,

o   Mr. Derek Smart, Chief Superintendent,

·       Irish Medical Organisation

o   Professor Matthew Sadlier, IMO Vice-President

o   Professor Brendan Kelly

·       Mental Health Commission

o   Ms Orla Keane, General Counsel,

o   Mr Gary Kiernan, Director of Regulations,

·       Mental Health Reform

o   Mr. Philip Watt, Interim CEO,

o   Mr. Stephen Sheil, Interim Communications & Engagement Manager.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Pádraig Rice said –

“The Committee meets tomorrow to look at issues contained in the provisions of the Mental Health Bill. The Bill aims to modernise mental health law and move towards a more person-centred and rights based approach. Key provisions in the Bill include: 

·        An updated involuntary admission and detention process for people with severe mental-health difficulties – including a revised set of criteria for admission,

·        An overhauled approach to consent to treatment for involuntarily admitted people,

·        An expansion of the Mental Health Commission’s regulatory function to include all community mental-health residences and services – including all community CAMHS,

·        Closer alignment with the principles of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Acts 2015 and 2022,

·        Stronger safeguards for people accessing in-patient treatment, and

·        Allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to consent to or refuse mental-health treatment. 

“It is regrettable that the Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health has bypassed the Select Committee and decided to take Committee Stage on the floor of Dáil Éireann.

“It would have been preferable to consider this important Bill in Select Committee, in line with best practice. We hope that due time will be given in the Dáil for thorough consideration of all amendments.” 

The Committee meeting can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Read more on the work done by the Joint Committee on Health

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.