Emer Higgins
Ceist:746. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will include the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 as priority legislation for the Dáil Éireann Spring 2024 session. [10593/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 5 March 2024
Ceisteanna (746)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023, which was introduced by Deputy Mark Ward and Deputy David Cullinane, was before Second Stage in the Dáil on 27 February.
The Government proposed a 9-month timed amendment to the Bill, which was approved by Dáil Eireann, to allow for issues contained in the Bill to be further examined, in consultation with Deputies Ward and Cullinane.
As such, there are no plans to include the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 on the priority legislation list for spring 2024.
Drafting of the Government's Mental Health Bill is in its final months. The forthcoming Government Bill will extend the Mental Health Commission's regulatory powers to all community mental health services, overhaul the involuntary admission and detention process, modernise provisions related to consent to treatment, provide enhanced safeguards for people accessing inpatient treatment, and provide a new, discrete Part that relates exclusively to the care and treatment of children and young people in inpatient settings.
Decisions on what legislation will be prioritised in the spring 2024 session will be decided by Cabinet in the coming weeks, following receipt of recommendations from the Chief Whip.