Seanad debates
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed)
5:00 pm
David Norris (Independent)
One must listen with the deepest respect to anybody of the eminence of Senator Harris, who can talk so movingly from direct experience of depression. I have never had depression, except in my old drinking days. It rarely lasted more than about 12 hours and I knew it would come to an end. Therefore, I cannot actually speak from experience. However, Senator Harris's experience does not provide a complete and adequate defence. He is a sufficiently chivalrous combatant to know that, and he is a contrarian. When he implies, "If it is good enough for Anthony Clare, it is good enough for me", the argument does not wash with me at all, because I am a grown-up. I do not accept at all the contention that the adults like it. Professor Clare could be right or wrong.
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