Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This innocent person here was hoping the Bill would be an answer to empowerment but people could be disempowered by a lack of awareness because they do not know what is going on. They could fall through some cracks.

That brings me on to a question to Mr. Dunne and whoever wanted to answer. The State might not be ready with all the decision-making representatives, procedures and processes in place. Family carers might and individuals might not know what their rights or obligations are. What are the possible impacts of that on the individual and on healthcare? There is a chance that someone might go into hospital, a bank or somewhere and fall through a crack of bureaucracy and nobody might really understand what each person’s role in a decision-making process is. However, we know the person who is to make the decision is a facilitator of a decision, not a decision maker. What are the unintended consequences of not being prepared for this Bill? How will people possibly be disenfranchised and disempowered by organisations, healthcare workers, bank workers or whatever not knowing where their rights and obligations lie? How will that impact on the individual who needs to make the decision?