Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the admission of children into adult psychiatric inpatient facilities and these cases are a regular occurrence. The proposed Bill uses the words: “in so far as practicable” and to me that just leaves a loophole open. We passed a motion last week calling for this loophole to be closed and to stop this practice. Why is this needed in the legislation? Can other safeguards be put in place if we legislate to stop this practice? The Ombudsman for Children was here in recent weeks and it was telling that he mentioned that:

We have become lazy about it and we have let the idea that we do not have the resources in place rule the fact that the best interest of the child is being overrun.

Those are the words that were used.